Crime Statistics User Event Sandra Campbell Justice Analytical Services 6 October 2014

Overview Two sources of crime statistics Key strengths and limitations Users and uses What do the statistics tell us? Police reform Statistics from onwards Next steps

Crime Statistics in Scotland Two complementary sources: 1.Police Recorded Crime 2.Scottish Crime and Justice Survey

Police Recorded Crime Key strengths: Frequency – annual data Geography – local authority level Time series – historical time series

Police Recorded Crime Limitations: Not all crimes are reported to the police – what are the barriers? No information on characteristics of victims and perpetrators e.g. age and gender or on circumstances of the crime e.g. locus of the crime

Users and Uses Scottish Government: Justice Strategy Policy development Also: Local authorities, Community Partnerships, Academia, Scottish Parliament, ISD Scotland, Charities and Support groups …… and many more

Justice Strategy

Policy context Priority - to reduce crime, particularly violent crime Reducing violence No Knives, Better Lives The No Knives Better Lives campaign informs young people about the dangers of carrying knives. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation Police recorded crime data used in the creation of the crime domain

Police Recorded Crime Background: Scottish Crime Recording Standard Around 470 crime codes Seven crime groups Crimes and offences Independently audited by HMICS

Police Recorded Crime What do we know? What are the longer term trends? What are the most recent changes?

Number of crimes recorded by the police

Crimes broken down by group

Summary of crime and offence changes

Change in crimes recorded by police force

Group 1 - Non-sexual crimes of violence

Group 2 - Sexual offences

Group 3 - Number of crimes of dishonesty

Group 4 – Crimes of Fire-raising and vandalism etc.

Group 5 - Other crimes

Groups 6 and 7 - Offences

Group 6 – Miscellaneous offences Miscellaneous offences – down 3% –Common assault – down 12% –Drunkenness - down 2% –Breach of the peace etc. – down 1% –Other offences – up 4%

Group 7 – Motor vehicle offences Motor vehicle offences – up 3% –Dangerous and careless driving – up 7% –Driving under the influence offences – down 14% –Speeding offences – up 3% –Unlawful use of vehicle – down 1% –Vehicle defect offences – up 1% –Other motor vehicle offence – up 5%

Summary Overall, number of recorded crimes down 13% between and – just over 41,000 fewer crimes –Non-sexual crimes of violence – down 21% –Sexual offences – up 5% –Crimes of dishonesty – down 12% –Crimes of fire-raising, vandalism – down 21% –Other crimes (including drug crimes) – down 8%

Police Reform The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 Prior to 1 April 2013: Eight police forces Scottish Police Services Authority Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency From 1 April 2013 onwards: Police Scotland Scottish Police Authority

Statistics from onwards First set of statistics since establishment of Police Scotland following police reform. Main changes: Geography – police force areas not presented Time series – local authority information for the past ten years

User Guide Scottish Crime Recording Standard and Counting Rules – summary Roles of organisations Data quality and QA procedures Classification of crimes and offences Changes to classifications/new legislation HMICS audits Comparability across the UK

Next steps - future consultation Presentation of information in the forthcoming statistical bulletin Recorded Crime in Scotland, Focus on crime groups Interactive web tables Ten year trend information for local authorities ….as well as potential future considerations