Recorded Crime in Scotland: March 2021

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 1% higher in March 2021 than in March 2020, increasing from 18,874 to 19,148. This month's bulletin is the first time that both the current month and the comparison month from the previous year have included periods of coronavirus restrictions.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 13% higher (increasing from 702 to 795 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 16% higher (increasing from 1,106 to 1,278 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 8% lower (reducing from 8,356 to 7,684 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 4% lower (reducing from 3,897 to 3,753 crimes).
• Other crimes were 17% higher (increasing from 4,813 to 5,638 crimes).
• More crimes were recorded by police in 22 (69%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 8% higher in March 2021 than in March 2020, increasing from 18,359 to 19,772.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences remained relatively unchanged (increasing from 9,755 to 9,797).
• Motor vehicle offences were 16% higher (increasing from 8,604 to 9,975).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April 2020 and March 2021 was 7% lower than the same period in the previous year. In April 2020 recorded crime was 18% lower than April 2019. For the most recent month – March 2021 - recorded crime was 1% higher than in March 2020. 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.