Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending September 2022

Main findings

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending September 2022, the police recorded 287,374 crimes. This was 3% (or 10,338 crimes) lower than the 297,712 crimes recorded in the previous year, and 4% lower than the 298,780 crimes recorded in the year ending September 2018.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

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

• were 8% (or 5,206 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 64,147 to 69,353 crimes), and
• were 5% (or 3,001 crimes) higher compared to the year ending September 2018 (increasing from 66,352 to 69,353 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 54 to 47 crimes), and decreased by 29% from the year ending September 2018 (from 66 to 47 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 42 to 40 crimes), but remained unchanged from the year ending September 2018 (at 40 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 3,554 to 3,684 crimes), but decreased by 15% from the year ending September 2018 (from 4,311 to 3,684 crimes).
• Common assault increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 53,920 to 58,350 crimes), and increased by 1% from the year ending September 2018 (from 57,544 to 58,350 crimes).
• Robbery decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,661 to 1,520 crimes), and decreased by 6% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,621 to 1,520 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 1,716 to 1,822 crimes). Please note that the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 came into effect on 1 April 2019. As such the year ending September 2019 figures reflect only six months of activity, with subsequent years covering a full 12 months.
• Other non-sexual violence increased by 22% compared to the previous year (from 3,200 to 3,890 crimes), and increased by 40% from the year ending September 2018 (from 2,770 to 3,890 crimes).

Sexual crimes

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

• were 6% (or 786 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 14,052 to 14,838 crimes), and
• were 10% (or 1,332 crimes) higher compared to the year ending September 2018 (increasing from 13,506 to 14,838 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 2,436 to 2,515 crimes), and increased by 7% from the year ending September 2018 (from 2,344 to 2,515 crimes).
• Sexual assault increased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 4,701 to 5,467 crimes), and increased by 3% from the year ending September 2018 (from 5,323 to 5,467 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 2,197 to 2,068 crimes), but increased by 8% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,908 to 2,068 crimes).
• Communicating indecently decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 1,553 to 1,540 crimes), but increased by 15% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,334 to 1,540 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 831 to 849 crimes), and increased by 52% from the year ending September 2018 (from 559 to 849 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 685 to 758 crimes), and increased by 27% from the year ending September 2018 (from 598 to 758 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 69 to 73 crimes), but decreased by 56% from the year ending September 2018 (from 166 to 73 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 1,580 to 1,568 crimes), but increased by 23% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,274 to 1,568 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

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

• were 12% (or 10,861 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 89,385 to 100,246 crimes), and
• were 10% (or 11,546 crimes) lower compared to the year ending September 2018 (decreasing from 111,792 to 100,246 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 8,622 to 8,674 crimes), but decreased by 38% from the year ending September 2018 (from 13,955 to 8,674 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,198 to 1,290 crimes), but decreased by 32% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,886 to 1,290 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 1,917 to 1,994 crimes), but decreased by 47% from the year ending September 2018 (from 3,771 to 1,994 crimes).
• Theft of motor vehicle increased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 4,283 to 4,800 crimes), but decreased by 1% from the year ending September 2018 (from 4,873 to 4,800 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 23% compared to the previous year (from 21,175 to 25,978 crimes), but decreased by 20% from the year ending September 2018 (from 32,296 to 25,978 crimes).
• Other theft increased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 31,765 to 36,714 crimes), but decreased by 13% from the year ending September 2018 (from 42,401 to 36,714 crimes).
• Fraud increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 16,165 to 17,205 crimes), and increased by 103% from the year ending September 2018 (from 8,474 to 17,205 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 16% compared to the previous year (from 4,260 to 3,591 crimes), and decreased by 13% from the year ending September 2018 (from 4,136 to 3,591 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

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

• were 1% (or 597 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 43,831 to 44,428 crimes), and
• were 10% (or 4,823 crimes) lower compared to the year ending September 2018 (decreasing from 49,251 to 44,428 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 2,692 to 2,677 crimes), but increased by 7% from the year ending September 2018 (from 2,501 to 2,677 crimes).
• Vandalism increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 37,787 to 38,512 crimes), but decreased by 13% from the year ending September 2018 (from 44,282 to 38,512 crimes).
• Reckless conduct decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 3,352 to 3,239 crimes), but increased by 31% from the year ending September 2018 (from 2,468 to 3,239 crimes).

Crimes against society

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

• were 12% (or 7,963 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 66,436 to 58,473 crimes), and
• were 1% (or 594 crimes) higher compared to the year ending September 2018 (increasing from 57,879 to 58,473 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 23,848 to 22,944 crimes), but increased by 28% from the year ending September 2018 (from 17,874 to 22,944 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 4,333 to 3,951 crimes), but increased by 5% from the year ending September 2018 (from 3,780 to 3,951 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 5,637 to 5,545 crimes), but increased by 24% from the year ending September 2018 (from 4,456 to 5,545 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply decreased by 21% compared to the previous year (from 4,793 to 3,791 crimes), and decreased by 21% from the year ending September 2018 (from 4,808 to 3,791 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession decreased by 20% compared to the previous year (from 27,661 to 22,028 crimes), and decreased by 18% from the year ending September 2018 (from 26,803 to 22,028 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 30% compared to the previous year (from 164 to 214 crimes), and increased by 35% from the year ending September 2018 (from 158 to 214 crimes).

Coronavirus restrictions

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

• were 100% (or 19,825 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 19,861 to 36 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 September 2020 figures reflect only a little over six months of activity.

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending September 2022, the police recorded 172,657 offences. This was 7% (or 13,206 offences) lower than the 185,863 offences recorded in the previous year, and 9% lower than the 189,566 offences recorded in the year ending September 2018.

Antisocial offences

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

• were 4% (or 2,485 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 55,517 to 53,032 offences), and
• were 13% (or 8,031 offences) lower compared to the year ending September 2018 (decreasing from 61,063 to 53,032 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 47,518 to 45,631 offences), and decreased by 8% from the year ending September 2018 (from 49,511 to 45,631 offences).
• Racially aggravated conduct decreased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 1,697 to 1,514 offences), and decreased by 17% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,829 to 1,514 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct decreased by 17% compared to the previous year (from 5,346 to 4,413 offences), and decreased by 37% from the year ending September 2018 (from 7,024 to 4,413 offences).
• Urinating etc. increased by 54% compared to the previous year (from 956 to 1,474 offences), but decreased by 45% from the year ending September 2018 (from 2,699 to 1,474 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

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

• were 2% (or 321 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 13,118 to 12,797 offences), and
• were 18% (or 1,911 offences) higher compared to the year ending September 2018 (increasing from 10,886 to 12,797 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 9,298 to 9,157 offences), but increased by 28% from the year ending September 2018 (from 7,168 to 9,157 offences).
• Environmental offences decreased by 17% compared to the previous year (from 545 to 452 offences), and decreased by 19% from the year ending September 2018 (from 561 to 452 offences).
• Licensing offences decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 853 to 818 offences), and decreased by 40% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,359 to 818 offences).
• Wildlife offences increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,449 to 1,456 offences), and increased by 20% from the year ending September 2018 (from 1,212 to 1,456 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 973 to 914 offences), but increased by 56% from the year ending September 2018 (from 586 to 914 offences).

Road traffic offences

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

• were 9% (or 10,400 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 117,228 to 106,828 offences), and
• were 9% (or 10,789 offences) lower compared to the year ending September 2018 (decreasing from 117,617 to 106,828 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 12,640 to 12,614 offences), but increased by 14% from the year ending September 2018 (from 11,077 to 12,614 offences).
• Driving under the influence decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 7,652 to 7,611 offences), but increased by 31% from the year ending September 2018 (from 5,790 to 7,611 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 24% compared to the previous year (from 23,901 to 18,282 offences), and decreased by 32% from the year ending September 2018 (from 26,812 to 18,282 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle decreased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 42,528 to 36,243 offences), and decreased by 6% from the year ending September 2018 (from 38,593 to 36,243 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences decreased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 6,305 to 5,153 offences), and decreased by 25% from the year ending September 2018 (from 6,840 to 5,153 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 1,540 to 1,763 offences), but decreased by 35% from the year ending September 2018 (from 2,693 to 1,763 offences).
• Mobile phone offences increased by 60% compared to the previous year (from 1,378 to 2,203 offences), but decreased by 19% from the year ending September 2018 (from 2,714 to 2,203 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 21,284 to 22,959 offences), but decreased by 1% from the year ending September 2018 (from 23,098 to 22,959 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending September 2018 and the year ending September 2022, of the 32 Local Authorities, 15 saw an increase in recorded crime, two saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 15 saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending September 2021 and the year ending September 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.