Recorded Crime in Scotland: September 2020

Summary

The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 4% lower in September 2020 than in September 2019, reducing from 20,405 to 19,684.

Over the same time period:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 17% lower (decreasing from 851 to 704 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 4% higher (increasing from 1,143 to 1,185 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 9% lower (reducing from 8,980 to 8,139 crimes).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. were 5% lower (reducing from 4,003 to 3,812 crimes).
• Other crimes were 8% higher (increasing from 5,428 to 5,844 crimes).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by the police in 19 (59%) out of 32 local authorities.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 3% lower in September 2020 than in September 2019, decreasing from 20,686 to 20,050.

Over the same time period:

• Miscellaneous offences were 5% lower (decreasing from 11,036 to 10,469).
• Motor vehicle offences were 1% lower (reducing from 9,650 to 9,581).

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April and September 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 - September 2020 - recorded crime was 4% lower than in September 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.