Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report : August 2024 edition

This report contains summary statistics covering a number of important justice and safer communities areas. It is published with up to date statistics every month.


Summary statistics on crime in general

Police recorded crime remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic though is up 4% since 2022-23. The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in 2023-24 was 299,780. This was 10,418 crimes (or 4%) higher than the level recorded in 2022-23.

Recorded crimes by financial year 

Number of crimes recorded by the police from 2014-15 to 2023-24. Last updated June 2024. Next update due June 2025.

Crime has fallen by 53% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) show that around 1 in 10 adults were victims of crime in 2021-22 (10.0%) compared to 1 in 5 in 2008-09 (20.4%). The estimated number of crimes fell by 53% over the same period, and by 18% since 2017-18. The SCJS detected no change in the overall victimisation rate between 2019-20 and 2021-22.

Estimated total crimes, 2008-09 to 2019-20

Total crimes as reported by the Scottish Crime & Justice Survey, 2008-09 to 2021-22. Last updated November 2023.

Recorded violent crime increased in the most recent year. Non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police increased by 4%, from 68,870 in 2022-23 to 71,463 in 2023-24. Common assault (up 3%) made up the clear majority (83%) of all non-sexual crimes of violence recorded in 2023-24. The SCJS showed the volume of violent crime fell by nearly three-fifths (58%) between 2008-09 and 2021-22 and that an estimated 34% of violent crime in 2021-22 was reported to the police.

Recorded sexual crimes decreased in the most recent year. Sexual crimes decreased by 1%, from 14,602 in 2022-23 to 14,484 in 2023-24. However, sexual crimes have been increasing in the long term. Multiple factors lie behind the long term increase in recorded sexual crime including a greater willingness of victims to come forward, more historical reporting, more online offending and the impact of new legislation. The SCJS for 2018-20 (2018-19 & 2019-20 combined) estimated that 3.6% of adults experienced at least one serious sexual assault since the age of 16, unchanged from 2008-09.

Women more likely to experience partner abuse. The SCJS, for 2018-20, estimated that 3.2% of respondents had experienced partner abuse in the year prior to interview. A higher proportion of women than men experienced this, at 3.7% and 2.6% respectively.

Increase in crime clear up rate. The clear up rate for all recorded crimes was 54.1% in 2023-24, up from 53.3% in 2022-23. Crimes against society (91.4%), non-sexual crimes of violence (68%) and sexual crimes (57.2%) continued to have higher clear up rates in 2023-24 than crimes of dishonesty (33.1%) and damage and reckless behaviour (29.6%).

Number of victims of homicide at record low. There were 52 homicide victims recorded by the police in Scotland in 2022-23, a 16% decrease from 2013-14 and the lowest value since comparable records began in 1976.

Victims of homicide, 2013-14 to 2022-23

Annual number of victims of homicide recorded by the police, 2013-14 to 2022-23. Last updated October 2023. Next update due October 2024.

Decrease in recorded domestic abuse incidents. There were 61,934 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in 2022-23, a decrease of 4% on 2021-22. In 2022-23, 39% of all incidents recorded by the police included the recording of at least one crime or offence.

Domestic abuse incidents, 2016-17 to 2022-23

Annual number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police, broken down by whether crime/offence involved, 2016-17 to 2022-23. Last updated March 2024.

Large decrease in firearm offences. Between 2020-21 and 2021-22, the number of crimes and offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been involved decreased by 23% (from 353 to 273 offences). The 2021-22 figure is the lowest recorded level since comparable records began in 1980.

Crimes and offences with a firearm, 2015-16 to 2021-22

Number of recorded crimes and offences where a firearm was alleged to be involved, 2015-16 to 2021-22. Last updated December 2023.

Contact

Email: justice_analysts@gov.scot

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