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RECORDED CRIME IN SCOTLAND, 2000
2. Key points
- The number of crimes recorded by the police decreased
in 2000, reversing the increases recorded in 1998 and 1999. In 2000 the Scottish
police recorded 423,000 crimes, a decrease of 3 per cent when compared
with the 1999 figure. The number of recorded crimes in 2000 was only slightly
higher than the ten year low figure of 421,000 in 1997 and was 26 per cent lower
than the peak 1991 figure In 2000 the police recorded 500,000 offences, a
decrease of 1 per cent compared with 1999.
- The
number of non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police decreased
slightly between 1999 and 2000, to total 23,300, reflecting the impact of the
Safer Scotland Campaign. Recorded cases of "serious assault etc." decreased by
3 per cent. The number of crimes of "handling an offensive weapon" increased by
3 per cent reflecting sustained efforts by the police to tackle the culture of
violence, with more people being found to have an offensive weapon in their possession
and being charged with this. "Other" non-sexual crimes of violence, such as threats
and extortion, increased by 17 per cent.
- The
number of crimes in the indecency group decreased by 4 per cent to number
5,800 in 2000. This figure is similar to the numbers recorded in the early 1990s.
Within this group recorded cases of sexual assault - which includes rape and indecent
assault - decreased by 6 per cent to total 1,800 whilst the number of crimes of
lewd and indecent behaviour decreased by 2 per cent to stand at 2,300 in 2000.
The number of crimes recorded in the "other" sub-group decreased by 5 per cent
to 1,600.
- The number of crimes of dishonesty
decreased by 6 per cent to stand at 261,000 cases. There were increases in only
two of the categories within this group: fraud (up 2,600 cases, an increase of
14 per cent) and shoplifting (up 335 cases, an increase of 1 per cent). Recorded
cases of theft from a motor vehicle by opening a lockfast place continued to fall
in 2000 and now stands at 33,700, the lowest such number since figures were first
separately identified in 1992. Similarly, the number of recorded cases of theft
of a motor vehicle decreased by 12 per cent in 2000 to 26,200, the lowest level
recorded since 1987. The number of housebreakings fell by 10 per cent (down 5,100),
between 1999 and 2000.
- Recorded cases of vandalism
(including malicious mischief) increased by 5 per cent (3,600) to total 80,800
in 2000. The number of recorded crimes of fire-raising increased by 39
(2 per cent) to total 2,400 during the same period.
- Within the other crimes group, recorded drugs crimes decreased by 1
per cent to 31,400 in 2000. Within the drugs group, recorded cases of supply and
possession with intent to supply rose by 2 per cent from 8,500 in 1999 to 8,600
in 2000 and recorded cases of possession decreased by 3 per cent from 22,800 in
1999 to 22,200 in 2000. These changes reflect policing decisions to use intelligence
led operations to target major drugs dealers, resulting in fewer recordings of
minor drugs possession offences.
- The number
of crimes cleared up by the police decreased from 189,000 in 1999 to 188,000
in 2000. However, this decrease of 1 per cent was less than the 3 per cent decrease
in the total number of crimes recorded. In consequence the crime clear-up rate
rose from 43 per cent in 1999 to 44 per cent in 2000. There were increases in
the clear-up rates for three of the five crime groups. The clear-up rate for crimes
of dishonesty increased from 35 to 37 per cent; the clear-up rate for non-sexual
crimes of violence increased from 72 to 73 per cent.
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