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.](/binaries/content/gallery/publications/statistics/2024/08/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-august-2024-edition/SCT0824085140-001_g27.png)
▶ 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.](/binaries/content/gallery/publications/statistics/2024/08/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-august-2024-edition/SCT0824085140-001_g15.png)
▶ 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.](/binaries/content/gallery/publications/statistics/2024/08/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-august-2024-edition/SCT0824085140-001_g16.png)
▶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.](/binaries/content/gallery/publications/statistics/2024/08/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-august-2024-edition/SCT0824085140-001_g17.png)
▶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.](/binaries/content/gallery/publications/statistics/2024/08/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-august-2024-edition/SCT0824085140-001_g18.png)
Contact
Email: justice_analysts@gov.scot
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