Recorded Crime in Scotland: March 2022

Summary

Statistics on crimes and offences recorded by the police provide a measure of the volume of criminal activity with which the police are faced. Crimes recorded by the police do not reveal the incidence of all crimes committed as not all crimes are reported to the police

The police in Scotland recorded 18,775 crimes in March 2022. This was 2% lower than the 19,148 crimes recorded in the same month of 2021 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 1% lower than the 18,874 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (part of which included restrictions on movement, with the first UK national lockdown announced on the 23^rd March).

In March 2022:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 7% higher compared to March 2021 (increasing from 795 to 852 crimes), and 21% higher compared to March 2020 (increasing from 702 to 852 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 7% lower compared to March 2021 (decreasing from 1,278 to 1,186 crimes), but 7% higher compared to March 2020 (increasing from 1,106 to 1,186 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 9% higher compared to March 2021 (increasing from 7,684 to 8,398 crimes), and 1% higher than in March 2020 (increasing from 8,356 to 8,398 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 1% lower compared to March 2021 (decreasing from 3,753 to 3,731 crimes), and 4% lower than in March 2020 (decreasing from 3,897 to 3,731 crimes).
• Other crimes were 18% lower compared to March 2021 (decreasing from 5,638 to 4,608 crimes), and 4% lower than in March 2020 (decreasing from 4,813 to 4,608 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 22 (69%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to March 2021.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in March 2022 was 18,684. This is 6% lower than the 19,772 offences recorded in the same month of 2021 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) but 2% higher than the 18,359 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (part of which included restrictions on movement, with the first UK national lockdown announced on the 23^rd March).

In March 2022:

• Miscellaneous offences increased by 8% compared to March 2021 (increasing from 9,797 to 10,580), and were 8% higher compared to March 2020 (increasing from 9,755 to 10,580).
• Motor vehicle offences were 19% lower compared to March 2021 (decreasing from 9,975 to 8,104), and 6% lower compared to March 2020 (decreasing from 8,604 to 8,104).

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.