Recorded Crime in Scotland: October 2020

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 8% lower in October 2020 than in October 2019, reducing from 21,443 to 19,798.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 8% lower (decreasing from 848 to 780 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 4% lower (decreasing from 1,134 to 1,093 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 12% lower (reducing from 9,571 to 8,406 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 12% lower (reducing from 4,259 to 3,735 crimes).
• Other crimes were 3% higher (increasing from 5,631 to 5,784 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 23 (72%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 8% lower in October 2020 than in October 2019, decreasing from 20,842 to 19,236.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 5% lower (decreasing from 10,596 to 10,079).
• Motor vehicle offences were 11% lower (reducing from 10,246 to 9,157).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April and October 2020 was 7% lower than the same period in 2019. In April 2020 recorded crime was 18% lower than April 2019. For the most recent month - October 2020 - recorded crime was 8% lower than in October 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.