Recorded Crime in Scotland: June 2021

Summary

The police in Scotland recorded 18,946 crimes in June 2021. This was 7% lower than the 20,440 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 10% lower than the 21,084 crimes recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In June 2021:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 9% higher compared to June 2020 (increasing from 722 to 786 crimes), but 8% lower compared to June 2019 (decreasing from 851 to 786 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 3% higher compared to June 2020 (increasing from 1,184 to 1,215 crimes), and 8% higher than June 2019 (increasing from 1,123 to 1,215 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 8% lower than June 2020 (decreasing from 8,184 to 7,554 crimes), and 22% lower than in June 2019 (decreasing from 9,655 to 7,554).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 7% higher than June 2020 (increasing from 3,524 to 3,760 crimes), but 3% lower than in June 2019 (decreasing from 3,867 to 3,760).
• Other crimes were 18% lower compared to June 2020 (decreasing from 6,826 to 5,631 crimes), but 1% higher than in June 2019 (increasing from 5,588 to 5,631).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by police in 22 (69%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to June 2020.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in June 2021 was 20,333. This is 7% lower than the 21,892 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 6% lower than the 21,645 offences recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In June 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences decreased by 5% compared to June 2020 (decreasing from 11,881 to 11,321), and decreased by 1% compared to June 2019 (decreasing from 11,454 to 11,321).
• Motor vehicle offences were 10% lower compared to June 2020 (decreasing from 10,011 to 9,012), and 12% lower compared to June 2019 (decreasing from 10,191 to 9,012).

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.