Recorded Crime in Scotland: August 2021

Summary

The police in Scotland recorded 19,071 crimes in August 2021. This was 4% lower than the 19,921 crimes recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 8% lower than the 20,730 crimes recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In August 2021:

• Non-sexual crimes of violence were 4% lower compared to August 2020 (decreasing from 828 to 791 crimes), and 2% higher compared to August 2019 (increasing from 775 to 791 crimes).
• Sexual crimes were 4% higher compared to August 2020 (increasing from 1,091 to 1,130 crimes), and relatively unchanged compared to August 2019 (increasing from 1,128 to 1,130 crimes).
• Crimes of dishonesty were 1% higher than August 2020 (increasing from 8,118 to 8,177 crimes), and 11% lower than in August 2019 (decreasing from 9,159 to 8,177).
• Fire-raising, vandalism etc. was 4% lower compared to August 2020 (decreasing from 3,948 to 3,786 crimes), and was also 4% lower than in August 2019 (decreasing from 3,963 to 3,786).
• Other crimes were 13% lower compared to August 2020 (decreasing from 5,936 to 5,187 crimes), and 9% lower than in August 2019 (decreasing from 5,705 to 5,187).
• Fewer crimes were recorded by police in 19 (59%) out of 32 local authorities, compared to August 2020.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in August 2021 was 20,314. This is 7% lower than the 21,847 offences recorded in the same month of 2020 (when pandemic restrictions were in place) and 6% lower than the 21,725 offences recorded in the same month of 2019 (for which there was no pandemic or restrictions on movement).

In August 2021:

• Miscellaneous offences decreased by 10% compared to August 2020 (decreasing from 12,375 to 11,160), and decreased by 2% compared to August 2019 (decreasing from 11,407 to 11,160).
• Motor vehicle offences were 3% lower compared to August 2020 (decreasing from 9,472 to 9,154), and 11% lower compared to August 2019 (decreasing from 10,318 to 9,154).

As outlined above, the annual Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletin remains the primary source of information on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland, including longer-term analysis of changes to each of the crime and offence groups detailed above.