This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Recorded Crimes in Scotland 2003
15/06/2004
Recorded crime in Scotland
decreased by five per cent last
year, according to the latest
annual statistics published
today.
The figures show that the total
number of crimes recorded by the police
in 2003 was 406,979 - the lowest level
for nearly a quarter of a century, and
a decrease of 20,055 (5 per cent) on
the previous year. At the same time,
the crime clear up rate rose to 47 per
cent, to reach an all-time high.
Other main findings in the
recorded crime statistics include:
• The number of violent crimes
(non-sexual crimes of violence)
recorded by the police decreased by
seven per cent, down from 16,461 in
2002 to 15,230 in 2003
• The number of sexual crimes
(indecency) increased marginally from
6,552 in 2002 to 6,557 in 2003 but
numbers are still below the levels
observed in 1997 and 1998
• Within this group recorded
cases of rape & attempted rape
increased by eight per cent from 913 to
988, the highest number ever recorded.
This partially reflects pro-active
efforts by police to encourage the
reporting of such crimes
• The number of crimes of
dishonesty decreased for the fourth
consecutive year, down 11 per cent from
235,668 in 2002 to 210,874 last
year
• Recorded cases of Vandalism,
including fire-raising and malicious
mischief, increased by five per cent
from 95,470 to 100,036 in 2003. This
increase reflects improved recording of
minor incidents of such crimes
throughout most police forces in
Scotland.
• In 2003 the police recorded
586,150 offences - an increase of
77,295 (15 per cent) on the previous
year and the highest number ever
recorded. This was due to a 62 per
cent increase in speeding offences
compared to 2002, reflecting the impact
of the Scottish Safety Camera
Programme. This programme has allowed
speed camera enforcement to be targeted
at roads with a history of speeding and
accidents, and has helped reduce road
accident casualties.
• Total crime increased in four
out of eight Scottish police forces,
with Fife, Dumfries and Galloway,
Central and Northern showing increases
of 10 per cent, seven per cent, six per
cent and three per cent respectively.
The increases in the total number of
crimes recorded largely reflects
increases in the numbers of recorded
crimes of vandalism, due to better
police recording methods for minor
crimes of vandalism.
This is a Scottish Executive
National Statistics publication.
National statistics are produced to
high professional standards set out in
the National Statistics Code of
Practice. They undergo regular quality
assurance reviews to ensure that they
meet customer needs. They are produced
free from any political
interference.
At the request of users and data
providers, consulted through the
SCOTSTAT Crime and Justice Committee,
statistical bulletins in the criminal
justice series will move to a financial
year basis from 2004/05. As a
transitional arrangement, this recorded
crime bulletin includes data for
financial years up to 2003/04 in
addition to the calendar year figures
for years to 2003.
In April 2004/05 the police
introduced a new Scottish Crime
Recording Standard (SCRS). This will
affect the recorded crime figures for
2004/05. The new crime recording
standard is expected to increase the
numbers of minor crimes recorded by the
police such as minor crimes of
vandalism and minor thefts. Although it
is not anticipated to have much impact
on the figures for the more serious
crimes such as serious assault, sexual
assault, robbery or housebreaking,
trends in overall recorded crime will
be affected. The Scottish Executive
has announced a new improved Scottish
Crime and Victimisation Survey to
monitor the underlying trends in crime
between 2003/04 and 2004/05, when the
trends in the recorded crime figures
will be affected by the introduction of
the new recording standard.