Recorded Crime in Scotland: May 2021

Main findings

Crimes recorded by the police

In May 2021, the police recorded 19,376 crimes. This was 6% lower (or 1,211 crimes) than the 20,587 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (when the first pandemic lockdown was still in place) and 11% lower than the 21,722 crimes recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement). There were variations in the year-on-year trends between different crime types. However, with the exception of Non-sexual crimes of violence, all groups were lower than pre-pandemic levels (May 2019) (Table 1, Chart 1).

In May 2021:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 8% higher compared to May 2020 (increasing from 744 to 805 crimes) and 2% higher compared to May 2019 (increasing from 787 to 805 crimes). Within this, Attempted murder and serious assault decreased by 2% compared to May 2020 (from 310 to 304), and decreased 16% from May 2019 (decreasing from 363 to 304 crimes). Other violence increased by 44% compared to May 2020 (from 149 to 214) and increased 59% from May 2019 (from 135 to 214). The increase in Other violence was mainly due to a rise in Threats and extortion, with many of these crimes likely to be cyber enabled. Crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 decreased by 4% compared to May 2020 (from 138 to 132), and were 16% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 157 to 132).
• Sexual crimes were 34% higher (or 317 crimes), increasing from 942 to 1,259 crimes. This was 2% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 1,280 to 1,259 crimes). Sexual assault saw the largest increase since May 2020, increasing by 55% (from 265 to 411). However, this was 14% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 478 to 411). Other sexual crimes increased by 22% compared to May 2020 (from 522 to 636). This was also a 12% increase compared to May 2019 (from 569 to 636). The rise in Other sexual crimes was driven by crimes including Voyeurism and Coercing a person into being present/looking at sexual activity, with many of these crimes likely to be cyber enabled. Rape and attempted rape increased by 35% compared to May 2020, from 153 to 206 crimes. However, this was a 10% decrease compared to May 2019 (from 229 to 206 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 8% lower (or 636 crimes) compared to May 2020, decreasing from 8,436 to 7,800 crimes. This was 18% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 9,508 to 7,800). Crimes of Fraud have continued to increase throughout the pandemic, increasing by 7% since May 2020 (from 1,441 to 1,549) and increasing 85% since May 2019 (from 837 to 1,549). The Changes in levels of recorded fraud section below provides users with further background on what may be contributing to this change. Shoplifting also increased by 4% compared to May 2020 (from 1,788 to 1,859), but is still 32% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 2,745 to 1,859).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 13% higher (or 433 crimes) compared to May 2020, increasing from 3,324 to 3,757 crimes. However this was still 12% lower than in May 2019. The increase since May 2020 was driven by crimes of Vandalism etc., which increased by 15% from 3,087 to 3,550 crimes. However this was still 11% lower than May 2019 levels.
• Other crimes were 19% lower (or 1,386 crimes) than in May 2020, decreasing from 7,141 to 5,755 crimes; this was also a 2% decrease since May 2019 (from 5,861 to 5,755). The main contributors to these decreases were Drugs (which fell by 27% compared to May 2020 and 18% compared to May 2019) and Crimes against public justice (which fell by 18% compared to May 2020 but was 25% higher compared to May 2019).

Chart 1. Crimes and offences recorded by the police, by crime group, May 2019, 2020 and 2021

Offences recorded by the police

In May 2021, the police recorded 21,047 offences. This was relatively unchanged (down 22 offences) from the 21,069 offences recorded in the same month in 2020, and 5% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 22,121 to 21,047 offences). Miscellaneous offences decreased by 1% compared to May 2020, and were 1% lower than in May 2019. Motor vehicle offences increased by 1% compared to May 2020, but were still 9% lower than in May 2019, as detailed below (Table 2).

In May 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences decreased by 1%, from 11,458 to 11,344 offences, and were 1% lower than in May 2019 (decreasing from 11,507 to 11,344). The largest decrease since May 2020 was in Breach of the peace etc. (which decreased by 8% from 4,811 to 4,428 offences), and were also 1% lower than in May 2019. Common assault increased by 13% compared to May 2020 (from 4,435 to 5,007 offences), but levels were still 1% lower compared to May 2019 (decreasing from 5,083 to 5,007).
• Motor vehicle offences were 1% higher compared to May 2020 (or 92 offences), increasing from 9,611 to 9,703 offences, but were still 9% lower than May 2019 levels. The main contributor to the increase since May 2020 was Other motor vehicle offences (which increased by 30%, from 1,465 to 1,909 offences), however this is still 1% below May 2019 levels. Unlawful use of a vehicle saw the biggest decrease compared to May 2020 (falling by 13%, from 3,759 to 3,254 offences), however this was 1% higher than May 2019 levels.

Local Authorities

Compared to May 2020, a decrease in recorded crime was seen in 21 (66%) out of 32 local authorities, with 11 showing an increase (Table 3). The largest decrease was seen in East Renfrewshire (down 29%) and the largest increase was in Na h-Eileanan Siar (up 22%). It should be noted that the relatively small number of crimes recorded in some of Scotland’s local authorities can fluctuate over time - leading to large percentage changes. This is particularly relevant in this release, where monthly data is being presented rather than the annual information provided in the National Statistics.

The biggest contributors by volume to the overall decrease in crimes recorded by the police were Glasgow City (down 9%, or 325 crimes), South Lanarkshire (down 19%, or 266 crimes) and North Lanarkshire (down 13%, or 204 crimes).