Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending June 2023

Main findings

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2023, the police recorded 292,702 crimes. This was 2% (or 6,728 crimes) higher than the 285,974 crimes recorded in the previous year, but 4% lower than the 305,300 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2019.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

The number of Non-sexual crimes of violence in the year ending June 2023:

• were <1% (or 20 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 70,156 to 70,136 crimes), and
• were 4% (or 2,729 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2019 (increasing from 67,407 to 70,136 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 50 to 54 crimes), but decreased by 27% from the year ending June 2019 (from 74 to 54 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 39 to 46 crimes), and increased by 7% from the year ending June 2019 (from 43 to 46 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 3,797 to 3,498 crimes), and decreased by 22% from the year ending June 2019 (from 4,495 to 3,498 crimes).
• Common assault decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 59,081 to 58,581 crimes), but increased by 1% from the year ending June 2019 (from 57,859 to 58,581 crimes).
• Robbery increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 1,604 to 1,672 crimes), but decreased by 3% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,732 to 1,672 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 1,800 to 1,784 crimes), but increased by 318% from the year ending June 2019 (from 427 to 1,784 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 19% compared to the previous year (from 3,785 to 4,501 crimes), and increased by 62% from the year ending June 2019 (from 2,777 to 4,501 crimes).

Sexual crimes

The number of Sexual crimes in the year ending June 2023:

• were <1% (or 46 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 14,880 to 14,834 crimes), and
• were 8% (or 1,156 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2019 (increasing from 13,678 to 14,834 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 2,455 to 2,567 crimes), and increased by 4% from the year ending June 2019 (from 2,475 to 2,567 crimes).
• Sexual assault decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 5,495 to 5,237 crimes), but increased by 1% from the year ending June 2019 (from 5,161 to 5,237 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 2,166 to 2,150 crimes), but increased by 8% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,987 to 2,150 crimes).
• Communicating indecently increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 1,533 to 1,595 crimes), and increased by 19% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,345 to 1,595 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 870 to 819 crimes), but increased by 27% from the year ending June 2019 (from 643 to 819 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 683 to 795 crimes), and increased by 50% from the year ending June 2019 (from 530 to 795 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution decreased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 78 to 67 crimes), and decreased by 69% from the year ending June 2019 (from 213 to 67 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,600 to 1,604 crimes), and increased by 21% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,324 to 1,604 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

The number of Crimes of dishonesty in the year ending June 2023:

• were 7% (or 7,288 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 97,207 to 104,495 crimes), and
• were 7% (or 8,301 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2019 (decreasing from 112,796 to 104,495 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 8,705 to 8,809 crimes), but decreased by 35% from the year ending June 2019 (from 13,518 to 8,809 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,251 to 1,257 crimes), but decreased by 26% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,704 to 1,257 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 2,086 to 1,984 crimes), and decreased by 39% from the year ending June 2019 (from 3,259 to 1,984 crimes).
• Theft of a motor vehicle increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 4,691 to 5,208 crimes), and increased by 7% from the year ending June 2019 (from 4,873 to 5,208 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 21% compared to the previous year (from 24,877 to 30,202 crimes), but decreased by 10% from the year ending June 2019 (from 33,611 to 30,202 crimes).
• Other theft increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 35,440 to 36,532 crimes), but decreased by 13% from the year ending June 2019 (from 41,882 to 36,532 crimes).
• Fraud increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 16,461 to 16,956 crimes), and increased by 82% from the year ending June 2019 (from 9,310 to 16,956 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 4% compared to the previous year (from 3,696 to 3,547 crimes), and decreased by 24% from the year ending June 2019 (from 4,639 to 3,547 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

The number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes in the year ending June 2023:

• were 3% (or 1,523 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 44,455 to 42,932 crimes), and
• were 11% (or 5,244 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2019 (decreasing from 48,176 to 42,932 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 2,623 to 2,718 crimes), and increased by 7% from the year ending June 2019 (from 2,548 to 2,718 crimes).
• Vandalism decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 38,582 to 36,961 crimes), and decreased by 14% from the year ending June 2019 (from 43,116 to 36,961 crimes).
• Reckless conduct increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 3,250 to 3,253 crimes), and increased by 29% from the year ending June 2019 (from 2,512 to 3,253 crimes).

Crimes against society

The number of Crimes against society in the year ending June 2023:

• were 2% (or 1,125 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 59,180 to 60,305 crimes), and
• were 5% (or 2,938 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2019 (decreasing from 63,243 to 60,305 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 22,895 to 23,479 crimes), and increased by 25% from the year ending June 2019 (from 18,774 to 23,479 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 4,093 to 4,283 crimes), but decreased by 2% from the year ending June 2019 (from 4,360 to 4,283 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 5,757 to 5,871 crimes), and increased by 19% from the year ending June 2019 (from 4,941 to 5,871 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 3,838 to 4,123 crimes), but decreased by 14% from the year ending June 2019 (from 4,821 to 4,123 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 22,390 to 22,277 crimes), and decreased by 26% from the year ending June 2019 (from 30,139 to 22,277 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 31% compared to the previous year (from 207 to 272 crimes), and increased by 31% from the year ending June 2019 (from 208 to 272 crimes).

Coronavirus restrictions

The number of Coronavirus restrictions crimes in the year ending June 2023:

• were 100% (or 96 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 96 to zero 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 2023, the police recorded 172,923 offences. This was 2% (or 4,037 offences) lower than the 176,960 offences recorded in the previous year, and 8% lower than the 187,965 offences recorded in the year ending June 2019.

Antisocial offences

The number of Antisocial offences in the year ending June 2023:

• were 11% (or 6,006 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 55,018 to 49,012 offences), and
• were 18% (or 11,123 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2019 (decreasing from 60,135 to 49,012 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 47,065 to 43,229 offences), and decreased by 13% from the year ending June 2019 (from 49,769 to 43,229 offences).
• Racially aggravated conduct decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 1,649 to 1,508 offences), and decreased by 13% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,737 to 1,508 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct decreased by 29% compared to the previous year (from 4,714 to 3,343 offences), and decreased by 46% from the year ending June 2019 (from 6,139 to 3,343 offences).
• Urinating etc. decreased by 41% compared to the previous year (from 1,590 to 932 offences), and decreased by 63% from the year ending June 2019 (from 2,490 to 932 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

The number of Miscellaneous offences in the year ending June 2023:

• were 1% (or 171 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 12,815 to 12,986 offences), and
• were 19% (or 2,084 offences) higher compared to the year ending June 2019 (increasing from 10,902 to 12,986 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 9,192 to 9,159 offences), but increased by 26% from the year ending June 2019 (from 7,279 to 9,159 offences).
• Environmental offences increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 463 to 464 offences), but decreased by 24% from the year ending June 2019 (from 609 to 464 offences).
• Licensing offences increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 802 to 842 offences), but decreased by 34% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,273 to 842 offences).
• Wildlife offences decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 1,456 to 1,432 offences), but increased by 29% from the year ending June 2019 (from 1,114 to 1,432 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences increased by 21% compared to the previous year (from 902 to 1,089 offences), and increased by 74% from the year ending June 2019 (from 627 to 1,089 offences).

Road traffic offences

The number of Road traffic offences in the year ending June 2023:

• were 2% (or 1,798 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 109,127 to 110,925 offences), and
• were 5% (or 6,003 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2019 (decreasing from 116,928 to 110,925 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 12,968 to 12,833 offences), but increased by 14% from the year ending June 2019 (from 11,212 to 12,833 offences).
• Driving under the influence increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 7,615 to 7,878 offences), and increased by 33% from the year ending June 2019 (from 5,935 to 7,878 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 19,929 to 18,596 offences), and decreased by 34% from the year ending June 2019 (from 27,999 to 18,596 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 36,514 to 36,005 offences), and decreased by 1% from the year ending June 2019 (from 36,348 to 36,005 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 5,611 to 6,009 offences), but decreased by 14% from the year ending June 2019 (from 7,017 to 6,009 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 1,781 to 2,044 offences), but decreased by 25% from the year ending June 2019 (from 2,734 to 2,044 offences).
• Mobile phone offences increased by 58% compared to the previous year (from 1,914 to 3,015 offences), and increased by 17% from the year ending June 2019 (from 2,572 to 3,015 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 22,795 to 24,545 offences), and increased by 6% from the year ending June 2019 (from 23,111 to 24,545 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending June 2019 and the year ending June 2023, of the 32 Local Authorities, 13 saw an increase in recorded crime and 19 saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending June 2022 and the year ending June 2023, of the 32 Local Authorities, 25 saw an increase in recorded crime, one saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and six saw a decrease in recorded crime.