Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in
Scotland, year ending December 2023.
The police in Scotland recorded 302,076 crimes in the year ending
December 2023. This was 5% higher than the 287,678 crimes
recorded in the year ending December 2022, but 2% lower than the
308,434 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2019.
It should be noted that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and
associated measures to limit social contact, has had an impact on
both the type and volume of crime recorded since March 2020. The
largest impact was seen during years ending December 2020 and
2021, and to a lesser extent the year ending December 2022. The
final legal restrictions were lifted in April 2022, meaning the
most recent year (year ending December 2023) was not impacted by
these restrictions.
The recording of crime for the year ending December 2023 remains
at one of the lowest levels seen for a 12-month period since
1974.
In the year ending December 2023:
Non-sexual crimes of violence were 4% higher compared to the year
ending December 2022 (increasing from 69,117 to 71,900 crimes),
and 4% higher compared to the year ending December 2019
(increasing from 68,987 to 71,900 crimes).
Sexual crimes were 2% higher compared to the year ending December
2022 (increasing from 14,640 to 14,894 crimes), and 8% higher
compared to the year ending December 2019 (increasing from 13,765
to 14,894 crimes).
Crimes of dishonesty were 11% higher compared to the year ending
December 2022 (increasing from 100,754 to 111,682 crimes), and
<1% higher compared to the year ending December 2019
(increasing from 111,392 to 111,682 crimes).
Damage and reckless behaviour was 4% lower compared to the year
ending December 2022 (decreasing from 43,711 to 42,124 crimes),
and 13% lower compared to the year ending December 2019
(decreasing from 48,469 to 42,124 crimes).
Crimes against society were 3% higher compared to the year ending
December 2022 (increasing from 59,442 to 61,476 crimes), but 7%
lower compared to the year ending December 2019 (decreasing from
65,821 to 61,476 crimes).
The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in the
year ending December 2023 was 179,616. This is 4% higher than the
173,269 offences recorded in the year ending December 2022, but
6% lower than the 192,028 offences recorded in the year ending
December 2019.
Background
- The full statistical
publication is available online.
- For additional and more detailed commentary on the recording
of crimes and offences, we recommend users refer to the 2022-23
(or year ending March 2023) Accredited Official
Statistics bulletin. This includes time series analysis
over the longer term (back to 1971), statistics on cyber-crimes
and clear-up rates.
- Contraventions of Scottish criminal law are divided for
statistical purposes into crimes and offences. ‘Crime’ is
generally used for the more serious criminal acts. The less
serious termed ‘offences’, although the term ‘offence’ may also
be used in relation to serious breaches of criminal law. The
distinction is made only for statistical reporting purposes and
the ‘seriousness’ of the offence is generally related to the
maximum sentence that can be imposed.
- Further information on Crime and Justice statistics within
Scotland can be accessed at: Crime and justice
statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Accredited Official and Official Statistics are produced by
professionally independent statistical staff – more information
on the standards of Official Statistics in Scotland can be
accessed at: Statistics and research
- gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
