We’ve produced a short Briefing Paper on the Scottish Crime Statistics for 2019/20 for the benefit of our community safety partners. You can download the Briefing Paper here.

Key findings of interest:

  • Between 2018-19 and 2019-20, crimes recorded by the police in Scotland
    remained almost unchanged, increasing by less than 1% from 246,480 to 246,516.
  • The recording of crime remains at one of the lowest levels seen since 1974.
  • The 2019-20 figures include 1,681 new crimes recorded under the Domestic
  • Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, following its enactment on 1 April 2019. A further 107 new crimes were recorded towards the end of 2019-20 under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland Regulation 2020.
  • Non-sexual crimes of violence increased by 16%, from 8,008 to 9,316. This increase is due to the recording of 1,681 new crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, following its enactment on 1 April 2019. All other non-sexual crimes of violence collectively decreased by 5%.
  • Sexual crimes decreased by 1% from 13,547 to 13,364. This is the first year since 2008-09 where sexual crimes haven’t increased, though these crimes remain at the second highest level seen since 1971, the first year for which comparable groups are available.
  • Crimes of dishonesty decreased by 3%, from 114,506 to 111,409. The recording of these crimes is at the lowest level seen since 1971.
  • Fire-raising, vandalism etc. decreased by 1% from 47,997 to 47,731. The recording of these crimes is at the lowest level seen since 1976.
  • Other crimes increased by 3% from 62,422 to 64,589. Most of these crimes relate to drug possession, crimes against public justice or handling offensive weapons