Crime figures up 3% in first full post-Covid year

Recorded Crime in Scotland in the year ending September 2023 was up 3% on the previous year, when Covid-19 restrictions were still having some effect, but 3% down on the pre-pandemic year ending September 2019, according to the latest figures from Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

The police in Scotland recorded 297,425 crimes in the year ending September 2023, compared with 287,374 crimes in the year to September 2022 and 307,938 in the year to September 2019. The total remains one of the lowest for a 12-month period since 1974.

In the latest year:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence, at 71,571, were 3% higher compared to the previous year, and 5% higher than in 2019.
• Sexual crimes, at 14,704, were 1% lower compared to the previous year, but 8% higher than in 2019.
• Crimes of dishonesty, at 108,153, were 8% higher compared to the previous year, but 4% lower than in 2019.
• Damage and reckless behaviour crimes, at 42,097, were 5% lower compared to the previous year, and 13% lower than in 2019.
• Crimes against society, at 60,900, were 4% higher compared to the previous year, but 6% lower than in 2019.

Im addition, the number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was 173,762, 1% higher than the 172,657 offences recorded in the year ending September 2022, but 9% lower than the 190,520 offences in the year to September 2019.

Find the full statistical publication.