Recorded Crime in Scotland: September 2021

Summary

The police in Scotland recorded 18,809 crimes in September 2021. This was 4% lower than the 19,684 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 8% lower than the 20,405 crimes recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In September 2021:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 16% higher compared to September 2020 (increasing from 704 to 815 crimes), and 4% lower compared to September 2019 (decreasing from 851 to 815 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 16% higher compared to September 2020 (increasing from 1,185 to 1,379 crimes), and 21% higher compared to September 2019 (increasing from 1,143 to 1,379 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 2% lower compared to September 2020 (decreasing from 8,139 to 8,010 crimes), and 11% lower than in September 2019 (decreasing from 8,980 to 8,010).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 5% lower compared to September 2020 (decreasing from 3,812 to 3,621 crimes), and 10% lower than in September 2019 (decreasing from 4,003 to 3,621).
• Other crimes were 15% lower compared to September 2020 (decreasing from 5,844 to 4,984 crimes), and 8% lower than in September 2019 (decreasing from 5,428 to 4,984).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by police in 19 (59%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to September 2020.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in September 2021 was 19,994. This is relatively unchanged from the 20,050 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 3% lower than the 20,686 offences recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In September 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences increased by 5% compared to September 2020 (increasing from 10,469 to 11,033), and is almost unchanged compared to September 2019 (decreasing from 11,036 to 11,033).
• Motor vehicle offences were 6% lower compared to September 2020 (decreasing from 9,581 to 8,961), and 7% lower compared to September 2019 (decreasing from 9,650 to 8,961).

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.