Sexual crimes in Scotland at highest level since 1971, latest figures show

Despite an overall drop in crimes recorded by Police Scotland between 2020/21 and 2021/22, the number of sexual crimes increased from 13,131 to 15,049, the highest total seen since 1971, the first year for which comparable groups are available. The Scottish government estimates that at least 37 per cent of the sexual crimes recorded in 2021/22 by the police related to a victim under the age of 18, similar to recent years.

Non-sexual crimes of violence increased by 12 per cent, from 61,913 to 69,286. The Scottish government says this was driven by a rise in common assault (also up 12 per cent), which “makes up the clear majority” (84 per cent) of all non-sexual crimes of violence recorded in 2021/22.

The latest recorded crime figures from Scotland’s Chief Statistician, released on Tuesday (June 28) show that sexual crimes accounted for five per cent of all crimes recorded by Police Scotland in 2021/22, with the report noting this continued a “long-term upward trend since 1974”. It added: “Prior to small decreases in 2019/20 and 2020/21, there had been increases each year since 2008/09.

“The issue of historical reporting of sexual crime also continues to play a role in the latest statistics. Further information from Police Scotland suggests that just under a quarter (23 per cent) of sexual crimes in 2021/22 were recorded at least one year after they occurred.”

Cases of rape and attempted rape increased by nine per cent to 2,498 last year, accounting for 17 per cent of all reported sexual crimes.

Sexual assault accounted for 36 per cent of sexual crimes, up by 29 per cent from 4,154 cases in 2020/21 to 5,359 in 2021/22.

The number of sexual crimes that were cyber-enabled is estimated to have risen from 1,100 in 2013/14 to 4,210 in 2021/22.

Overall, crimes recorded by Police Scotland decreased by four per cent, from 299,452 to 286,464 in 2021/22 – the lowest level seen since 1974. The Scottish government says this fall was driven by an 81 per cent reduction in crimes recorded under coronavirus-related legislation (from 20,976 to 3,913). All other crimes collectively increased by one per cent.

It added: “Over the past ten years, total recorded crime in Scotland has decreased by 14 per cent. This continues a generally decreasing trend in recorded crime over the longer term, from a peak in 1991 when crime reached a record high of 613,943.”

The latest statistics show crimes of dishonesty increased by 4 per cent, from 89,731 to 92,873. The recording of these crimes is at the second lowest level seen since 1971.

Damage and reckless behaviour crimes increased by three per cent, from 42,964 to 44,284 – the second lowest level seen since 1976.

Crimes against society fell by 14 per cent from 70,737 to 61,059, most of which related to drug possession, crimes against public justice or handling offensive weapons.

An estimated 14,280 cybercrimes were recorded by Police Scotland in 2021/22. This is similar to the estimated 14,860 cybercrimes recorded in 2020/21, but a big increase compared with the estimated 7,710 cybercrimes recorded in 2019/20.

“Part of this increase since 2019/20 may be due to the significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic, including behavioural changes, such as increased online shopping,” says the Scottish government.

“We estimate that cybercrimes accounted for over one-in-four sexual crimes (28 per cent) in 2021/22 and around one-in-ten crimes of dishonesty (nine per cent).”

The official statistics on clear-up rates show a drop from 59.3 per cent in 2020/21 to 54.0 per cent.

The Scottish government says the increase in 2020/21 “likely reflected the impact of the coronavirus pandemic” on the types of crime recorded, with the volume of those crimes that have relatively lower clear-up rates falling more sharply than those with relatively higher clear up rates.

It added: “The fall back to 54 per cent in 2021/22 reflects a partial return to the volume of different crime types recorded in the year prior to the pandemic, albeit clear-up rates have still fallen for each of the individual crime groups. This included non-sexual crimes of violence (down from 72.1 per cent to 67.1 per cent), sexual crimes (58.4 per cent to 53.5 per cent) and crimes of dishonesty (37.9 per cent to 31.6 per cent).