Crimes of violence and sexual crimes up in latest figures

An overall rise of 1% in recorded crimes in 2018-19 has been reported by Scotland’s Chief Statistician in the latest official statistics.

The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland increased from 244,504 to 246,480 during the year, though the figure remains at one of the lowest levels seen since 1974. It follows a similar 1% rise in 2017-18 over the low point reached in 2016-17.

The main increases were in the number of non-sexual crimes of violence, up by 10% from 7,251 to 8,008 (though still at a lower level than the period from 1980 to 2012), and sexual crimes, up by 8% from 12,487 to a new high of 13,547. 

Crimes of dishonesty remained almost unchanged, increasing from 114,474 to 114,506.

Fireraising, vandalism etc decreased by 6% from 51,322 to 47,997, the lowest level seen since 1976, but other crimes increased by 6% from 58,970 to 62,422 – principally drug possession, crimes against public justice or handling offensive weapons.

Between 2017-18 and 2018-19 the police clearup rate increased by 1.5 percentage points, from 49.5% to 51.0%. Other crimes (89.0%), non-sexual crimes of violence (73.3%) and sexual crime (58.1%) had higher clearup rates in 2018-19 than crimes of dishonesty (38.3%) and fireraising, vandalism etc (25.9%).

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