Recorded Crime in Scotland: October 2021

Summary

The police in Scotland recorded 19,708 crimes in October 2021. This was relatively unchanged from the 19,798 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 8% lower than the 21,443 crimes recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In October 2021:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 21% higher compared to October 2020 (increasing from 780 to 941 crimes), and 11% higher compared to October 2019 (increasing from 848 to 941 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 12% higher compared to October 2020 (increasing from 1,093 to 1,221 crimes), and 8% higher compared to October 2019 (increasing from 1,134 to 1,221 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 3% higher compared to October 2020 (increasing from 8,406 to 8,689 crimes), and 9% lower than in October 2019 (decreasing from 9,571 to 8,689).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 2% higher compared to October 2020 (increasing from 3,735 to 3,798 crimes), and 11% lower than in October 2019 (decreasing from 4,259 to 3,798).
• Other crimes were 13% lower compared to October 2020 (decreasing from 5,784 to 5,059 crimes), and 10% lower than in October 2019 (decreasing from 5,631 to 5,059).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by police in 20 (63%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to October 2020.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in October 2021 was 18,780. This is 2% lower than the 19,236 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 10% lower than the 20,842 offences recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In October 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences increased by 5% compared to October 2020 (increasing from 10,079 to 10,555), and were almost unchanged compared to October 2019 (decreasing from 10,596 to 10,555).
• Motor vehicle offences were 10% lower compared to October 2020 (decreasing from 9,157 to 8,225), and 20% lower compared to October 2019 (decreasing from 10,246 to 8,225).

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.