4. Commentary: Recorded crime in Scotland
4.1 The total number of crimes recorded by the police in 2006/07 was 419,257, less than half of one per cent more than in 2005/06 (see chart 1 and table 1). The total remains well below the 2004/05 figure of 438,121, and generally lower than figures over the last quarter century, where there have been only 4 years with lower totals.
Chart 2 Crimes recorded by the police by crime group, 1976 - 1994 then 1995/96 - 2005/06
4.2 The number of non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police increased by 3 per cent between 2005/06 and 2006/07, to total 14,099. Since 1997/98 there has been only one year in which the total was lower (2005/06), (see chart 2 and table 1). Within this category the number of serious assaults etc. (which includes crimes of murder and attempted murder) recorded increased by 5 per cent to 7,504, recorded robberies increased by 1 per cent to total 3,578. Other non-sexual crimes of violence decreased marginally from 3,022 to 3,017.
4.3 The number of crimes in the indecency group increased from 6,558 in 2005/06 to 6,726 in 2006/07, a 3 per cent increase (see chart 2 and table 1). Within this group recorded cases of rape and attempted rape decreased by 3 per cent to reach 1,123. Cases of indecent assault increased by 10 per cent to 1,664 in 2006/07 and the number of crimes of lewd and indecent behaviour decreased by a further 4 per cent to 2,555 in 2006/07. The number of crimes recorded in the "other" sub-group increased by 12 per cent to total 1,384 in 2006/07.
4.4 The number of crimes of dishonesty decreased for the eighth consecutive year, by 2 per cent, to stand at 183,760 cases in 2006/07 (see chart 2 and table 1). Two categories of crimes of dishonesty showed particularly large decreases, theft by opening a lockfast place and fraud. Thefts by opening a lockfast place decreased by 10 per cent to 7,422 and frauds decreased by 16 per cent to 9,332. Part of this decrease can be attributed to a change in recording practices.
4.5 Recorded cases of vandalism (including fire-raising and malicious mischief) increased by one per cent to total 129,734 in 2006/07 (see chart 2 and table 1).
4.6 Within the other crimes group, there was a 16 per cent increase in crimes against public justice, this is largely attributable to pro-active policing and enforcement of additional bail conditions made in order to provide safeguards over and above the standard bail conditions (see chart 2 and table 1). The number of crimes of handling an offensive weapon increased by 5 per cent to 10,110 in 2006/07 and recorded drugs crimes decreased by 4 per cent from 44,247 in 2005/06 to 42,422 in 2006/07.
4.7 The number of crimes cleared up by the police increased by 4 per cent from 190,918 in 2005/06 to 198,985 in 2006/07 (see chart 3 and table A1), even though the overall number of crimes changed very little. Clear up rates (table 3) increased for four of the five crime groups, and decreased for one (crimes of indecency).
Chart 3 Clear up rates for crimes recorded by the police by crime group, 1976 - 1994 then 1995/96 - 2006/07
4.8 The number of offences recorded by the police increased by 1 per cent from 599,888 in 2005/06 to 607,406 in 2006/07. There were increases in all categories of miscellaneous offences (see chart 1 and table 2) except for drunkenness, and a decrease in the number of recorded speeding offences.