Breakdown of record crime statistics: FOI release

Information requested

The following breakdowns of the Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics for the time period 2013-14 to 2024-25:

1. A breakdown of Other crimes of dishonesty (for example Corruption, Currency Offences, Proceeds of Crime);

2. A breakdown of Fraud into sub-categories.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the attached table. This table shows the breakdown of the recorded crimes included under Other crimes of dishonesty for the time period 2013- 14 to 2024-25.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the full information you have requested on the breakdowns of Fraud into sub-categories. Whilst the Scottish Government publishes statistics on Recorded Crime in Scotland, the data provided to us by Police Scotland is in an aggregated format (based on a simple count of crimes and offences committed for any given time period). This does not include details on the type of Fraud and therefore based on the information we hold we cannot determine breakdowns of Fraud within the given total of recorded crimes.

As part of the Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics, we publish a section on police recorded cybercrime in Scotland. This section includes an estimate of how many cyber-crimes were recorded by police, including Fraud cyber-crimes. In 2024-25, just under half (49%) or 7,550 recorded frauds were estimated to have been cyber-crimes.

Further statistics on cyber-crimes, covering the period 2019-20 to 2024-25, are published in Tables A12 to A14 in the supporting documents.

Research was conducted in 2018-19 specifically looking at Fraud recorded crimes. This information was published as part of the Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics in 2018 19. It includes new details on the characteristics of these cases including method of fraud, based on a random sample of police recorded crimes.

It should be noted that these statistics relate to fraud which has come to the attention of the police. It does not provide information on the characteristics of all fraud committed in society, as not all of these crimes are reported to the police.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500479255 - Information released - Response Tables

File type

Excel document

File size

15.2 kB