Recorded Crime in Scotland: June 2020

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 3% lower in June 2020 than in June 2019, reducing from 21,084 to 20,440. Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 15% lower (reducing from 851 to 722).
• Sexual crimes were 5% higher, increasing from 1,123 to 1,184 crimes.
• Crimes of dishonesty were 15% lower (reducing from 9,655 to 8,184 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 9% lower (reducing from 3,867 to 3,524 crimes).
• Other crimes were 22% higher (increasing from 5,588 to 6,826 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 17 (53%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 1% higher in June 2020 than in June 2019, increasing from 21,645 to 21,892. Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 4% higher (increasing from 11,454 to 11,881).
• Motor vehicle offences were 2% lower (reducing from 10,191 to 10,011).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police during April to June 2020 was 9% lower than the same period in 2019. This included April 2020 being 18% lower than April 2019, May 2020 being 5% lower than May 2019, and June 2020 being 3% lower than June 2019. As outlined above, the annual Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletin remains the primary source of information on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland, including longer-term analysis of changes to each of the crime and offence groups detailed above.

It should be noted that the total figure for recorded crime (presented in this summary and throughout the bulletin) excludes the new crimes being recorded under the recently enacted coronavirus legislation. Please see the Crimes recorded under coronavirus legislation section below for more information.