Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending June 2022

Main findings

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2022, the police recorded 285,974 crimes. This was 5% (or 14,773 crimes) lower than the 300,747 crimes recorded in the previous year, and 5% lower than the 301,376 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2018.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

The number of Non-sexual crimes of violence in the year ending June 2022:

• were 9% (or 6,076 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 64,080 to 70,156 crimes), and
• were 5% (or 3,616 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2018 (increasing from 66,540 to 70,156 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 57 to 50 crimes), and decreased by 23% from the year ending June 2018 (from 65 to 50 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving decreased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 45 to 39 crimes), and decreased by 7% from the year ending June 2018 (from 42 to 39 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 3,635 to 3,797 crimes), but decreased by 11% from the year ending June 2018 (from 4,254 to 3,797 crimes).
• Common assault increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 53,895 to 59,081 crimes), and increased by 2% from the year ending June 2018 (from 57,791 to 59,081 crimes).
• Robbery decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 1,655 to 1,604 crimes), and decreased by <1% from the year ending June 2018 (from 1,607 to 1,604 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 1,682 to 1,800 crimes). Please note that the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 came into effect on 1 April 2019. As such the year ending June 2019 figures reflect only three months of activity, with subsequent years covering a full 12 months.
• Other non-sexual violence increased by 22% compared to the previous year (from 3,111 to 3,785 crimes), and increased by 36% from the year ending June 2018 (from 2,781 to 3,785 crimes).

Sexual crimes

The number of Sexual crimes in the year ending June 2022:

• were 7% (or 941 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 13,939 to 14,880 crimes), and
• were 14% (or 1,825 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2018 (increasing from 13,055 to 14,880 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 2,477 to 2,455 crimes), but increased by 10% from the year ending June 2018 (from 2,237 to 2,455 crimes).
• Sexual assault increased by 20% compared to the previous year (from 4,587 to 5,495 crimes), and increased by 6% from the year ending June 2018 (from 5,182 to 5,495 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images remained unchanged compared to the previous year (at 2,166 crimes), but increased by 19% from the year ending June 2018 (from 1,820 to 2,166 crimes).
• Communicating indecently increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 1,525 to 1,533 crimes), and increased by 24% from the year ending June 2018 (from 1,238 to 1,533 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 801 to 870 crimes), and increased by 64% from the year ending June 2018 (from 532 to 870 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 682 to 683 crimes), and increased by 4% from the year ending June 2018 (from 654 to 683 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution increased by 20% compared to the previous year (from 65 to 78 crimes), but decreased by 40% from the year ending June 2018 (from 131 to 78 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 1,636 to 1,600 crimes), but increased by 27% from the year ending June 2018 (from 1,261 to 1,600 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

The number of Crimes of dishonesty in the year ending June 2022:

• were 9% (or 7,948 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 89,259 to 97,207 crimes), and
• were 15% (or 16,567 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2018 (decreasing from 113,774 to 97,207 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 8,925 to 8,705 crimes), and decreased by 40% from the year ending June 2018 (from 14,521 to 8,705 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 1,243 to 1,251 crimes), but decreased by 37% from the year ending June 2018 (from 2,001 to 1,251 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 1,920 to 2,086 crimes), but decreased by 47% from the year ending June 2018 (from 3,935 to 2,086 crimes).
• Theft of motor vehicle increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 4,233 to 4,691 crimes), but decreased by 5% from the year ending June 2018 (from 4,938 to 4,691 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 21,136 to 24,877 crimes), but decreased by 23% from the year ending June 2018 (from 32,122 to 24,877 crimes).
• Other theft increased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 31,496 to 35,440 crimes), but decreased by 19% from the year ending June 2018 (from 43,610 to 35,440 crimes).
• Fraud increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 15,835 to 16,461 crimes), and increased by 96% from the year ending June 2018 (from 8,395 to 16,461 crimes). Further explanation on the changes in levels of recorded fraud are available in the Recorded Crime in Scotland annual bulletin.
• Other dishonesty decreased by 17% compared to the previous year (from 4,471 to 3,696 crimes), and decreased by 13% from the year ending June 2018 (from 4,252 to 3,696 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

The number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes in the year ending June 2022:

• were <1% (or 162 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 44,293 to 44,455 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 5,848 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2018 (decreasing from 50,303 to 44,455 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 2,683 to 2,623 crimes), but increased by 4% from the year ending June 2018 (from 2,529 to 2,623 crimes).
• Vandalism increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 38,338 to 38,582 crimes), but decreased by 15% from the year ending June 2018 (from 45,288 to 38,582 crimes).
• Reckless conduct decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 3,272 to 3,250 crimes), but increased by 31% from the year ending June 2018 (from 2,486 to 3,250 crimes).

Crimes against society

The number of Crimes against society in the year ending June 2022:

• were 14% (or 9,850 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 69,030 to 59,180 crimes), and
• were 3% (or 1,476 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2018 (increasing from 57,704 to 59,180 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 24,455 to 22,895 crimes), but increased by 26% from the year ending June 2018 (from 18,106 to 22,895 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 4,422 to 4,093 crimes), but increased by 13% from the year ending June 2018 (from 3,633 to 4,093 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 5,806 to 5,757 crimes), but increased by 31% from the year ending June 2018 (from 4,390 to 5,757 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply decreased by 24% compared to the previous year (from 5,054 to 3,838 crimes), and decreased by 20% from the year ending June 2018 (from 4,794 to 3,838 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession decreased by 23% compared to the previous year (from 29,135 to 22,390 crimes), and decreased by 16% from the year ending June 2018 (from 26,619 to 22,390 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 31% compared to the previous year (from 158 to 207 crimes), and increased by 28% from the year ending June 2018 (from 162 to 207 crimes).

Coronavirus restrictions

The number of Coronavirus restrictions crimes in the year ending June 2022:

• were almost 100% (or 20,050 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 20,146 to 96 crimes).

The Coronavirus Act 2020 and Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 were implemented on 25 March and 27 March 2020, respectively. As such the year ending June 2020 figures reflect only a little over three months of activity.

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2022, the police recorded 176,960 offences. This was 7% (or 12,717 offences) lower than the 189,677 offences recorded in the previous year, and 10% lower than the 196,848 offences recorded in the year ending June 2018.

Antisocial offences

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

• were 2% (or 1,150 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 56,168 to 55,018 offences), and
• were 14% (or 8,720 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2018 (decreasing from 63,738 to 55,018 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 48,108 to 47,065 offences), and decreased by 7% from the year ending June 2018 (from 50,842 to 47,065 offences).
• Racially aggravated conduct decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 1,760 to 1,649 offences), and decreased by 12% from the year ending June 2018 (from 1,883 to 1,649 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct decreased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 5,380 to 4,714 offences), and decreased by 41% from the year ending June 2018 (from 8,026 to 4,714 offences).
• Urinating etc. increased by 73% compared to the previous year (from 920 to 1,590 offences), but decreased by 47% from the year ending June 2018 (from 2,987 to 1,590 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

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

• were 5% (or 636 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 13,451 to 12,815 offences), and
• were 17% (or 1,845 offences) higher compared to the year ending June 2018 (increasing from 10,970 to 12,815 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 9,418 to 9,192 offences), but increased by 28% from the year ending June 2018 (from 7,184 to 9,192 offences).
• Environmental offences decreased by 32% compared to the previous year (from 677 to 463 offences), and decreased by 16% from the year ending June 2018 (from 552 to 463 offences).
• Licensing offences decreased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 928 to 802 offences), and decreased by 43% from the year ending June 2018 (from 1,412 to 802 offences).
• Wildlife offences decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,457 to 1,456 offences), but increased by 15% from the year ending June 2018 (from 1,262 to 1,456 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 971 to 902 offences), but increased by 61% from the year ending June 2018 (from 560 to 902 offences).

Road traffic offences

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

• were 9% (or 10,931 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 120,058 to 109,127 offences), and
• were 11% (or 13,013 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2018 (decreasing from 122,140 to 109,127 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 12,413 to 12,968 offences), and increased by 17% from the year ending June 2018 (from 11,055 to 12,968 offences).
• Driving under the influence decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 7,821 to 7,615 offences), but increased by 30% from the year ending June 2018 (from 5,836 to 7,615 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 19% compared to the previous year (from 24,699 to 19,929 offences), and decreased by 28% from the year ending June 2018 (from 27,555 to 19,929 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle decreased by 17% compared to the previous year (from 43,787 to 36,514 offences), and decreased by 12% from the year ending June 2018 (from 41,575 to 36,514 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences decreased by 19% compared to the previous year (from 6,885 to 5,611 offences), and decreased by 18% from the year ending June 2018 (from 6,858 to 5,611 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 1,756 to 1,781 offences), but decreased by 41% from the year ending June 2018 (from 3,008 to 1,781 offences).
• Mobile phone offences increased by 22% compared to the previous year (from 1,565 to 1,914 offences), but decreased by 34% from the year ending June 2018 (from 2,891 to 1,914 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 21,132 to 22,795 offences), but decreased by 2% from the year ending June 2018 (from 23,362 to 22,795 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending June 2018 and the year ending June 2022, of the 32 Local Authorities, 14 saw an increase in recorded crime, two saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 16 saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending June 2021 and the year ending June 2022, of the 32 Local Authorities, eight Local Authorities saw an increase in recorded crime, one saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 23 saw a decrease in recorded crime.