Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending December 2022

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending December 2022, the police recorded 173,269 offences. This was 5% (or 8,802 offences) lower than the 182,071 offences recorded in the previous year, and 7% lower than the 186,858 offences recorded in the year ending December 2018.

Antisocial offences

The number of Antisocial offences in the year ending December 2022:

• were 6% (or 3,411 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 55,068 to 51,657 offences), and
• were 14% (or 8,497 offences) lower compared to the year ending December 2018 (decreasing from 60,154 to 51,657 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 47,179 to 44,537 offences), and decreased by 9% from the year ending December 2018 (from 48,883 to 44,537 offences).
• Racially aggravated conduct decreased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 1,692 to 1,524 offences), and decreased by 15% from the year ending December 2018 (from 1,801 to 1,524 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct decreased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 4,976 to 4,315 offences), and decreased by 37% from the year ending December 2018 (from 6,865 to 4,315 offences).
• Urinating etc. increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 1,221 to 1,281 offences), but decreased by 51% from the year ending December 2018 (from 2,605 to 1,281 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

The number of Miscellaneous offences in the year ending December 2022:

• were <1% (or seven offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 12,856 to 12,849 offences), but
• were 20% (or 2,103 offences) higher compared to the year ending December 2018 (increasing from 10,746 to 12,849 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 9,180 to 9,177 offences), but increased by 27% from the year ending December 2018 (from 7,209 to 9,177 offences).
• Environmental offences decreased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 507 to 433 offences), and decreased by 23% from the year ending December 2018 (from 565 to 433 offences).
• Licensing offences decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 829 to 808 offences), and decreased by 33% from the year ending December 2018 (from 1,212 to 808 offences).
• Wildlife offences decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,445 to 1,440 offences), but increased by 24% from the year ending December 2018 (from 1,163 to 1,440 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 895 to 991 offences), and increased by 66% from the year ending December 2018 (from 597 to 991 offences).

Road traffic offences

The number of Road traffic offences in the year ending December 2022:

• were 5% (or 5,384 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 114,147 to 108,763 offences), and
• were 6% (or 7,195 offences) lower compared to the year ending December 2018 (decreasing from 115,958 to 108,763 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 12,569 to 12,621 offences), and increased by 15% from the year ending December 2018 (from 10,931 to 12,621 offences).
• Driving under the influence increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 7,706 to 7,764 offences), and increased by 33% from the year ending December 2018 (from 5,828 to 7,764 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 23% compared to the previous year (from 23,067 to 17,875 offences), and decreased by 32% from the year ending December 2018 (from 26,454 to 17,875 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 39,761 to 36,639 offences), and decreased by 2% from the year ending December 2018 (from 37,257 to 36,639 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences decreased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 6,384 to 5,427 offences), and decreased by 21% from the year ending December 2018 (from 6,877 to 5,427 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,674 to 1,809 offences), but decreased by 33% from the year ending December 2018 (from 2,695 to 1,809 offences).
• Mobile phone offences increased by 82% compared to the previous year (from 1,446 to 2,637 offences), but decreased by 1% from the year ending December 2018 (from 2,677 to 2,637 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 21,540 to 23,991 offences), and increased by 3% from the year ending December 2018 (from 23,239 to 23,991 offences).