Recorded crime in Scotland: 2016-2017

Statistics on crimes and offences recorded and cleared up by the police in Scotland, split by crime or offence group and by local authority.

This document is part of a collection


8. Classification of Crimes and Offences

CRIMES

Group 1: Non-sexual crimes of violence

(Also referred to as Crimes of violence)

Homicide etc.

Includes:

  • Murder
  • Culpable homicide
    • Culpable homicide (common law)
    • Causing death by dangerous driving
    • Causing death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs
    • Causing death by careless driving
    • Illegal driver involved in fatal accident
    • Corporate homicide

Attempted murder and serious assault

Includes:

  • Attempted murder
  • Serious assault

For the definition of Serious assault and the distinction between Serious assault and Common assault please see Paragraph 7.13 within Annex 1.

Robbery

  • Robbery and assault with intent to rob

Other

Includes:

  • Threats and extortion
  • Cruel and unnatural treatment of children
  • Abortion
  • Concealment of pregnancy
  • Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime etc.
  • Abduction
  • Ill treatment of mental patients
  • Drugging
  • Slavery or forced labour
  • Human organ offences

Group 2: Sexual crimes

Rape and attempted rape

Includes:

  • Rape
  • Attempted rape

Sexual assault

Includes:

  • Contact sexual assault (13-15 year old or adult 16+)
  • Sexually coercive conduct (13-15 year old or adult 16+)
  • Sexual crimes against children under 13 years
  • Lewd and libidinous practices

Crimes associated with prostitution

Includes:

  • Crimes relating to prostitution
  • Soliciting services of person engaged in prostitution
  • Brothel keeping
  • Immoral traffic
  • Procuration

Other

Includes:

  • Other sexually coercive conduct
  • Other sexual crimes involving 13-15 year old children
  • Taking, distribution, possession etc. of indecent photos of children
  • Incest
  • Unnatural crimes
  • Public indecency
  • Sexual exposure
  • Other sexual crimes

Group 3: Crimes of dishonesty

(Also referred to as Dishonesty)

Housebreaking

Includes:

  • Theft by housebreaking domestic property (dwelling and non-dwelling)
  • Theft by housebreaking other property
  • Housebreaking with intent to steal domestic property (dwelling and non-dwelling)
  • Housebreaking with intent to steal other property
  • Attempted housebreaking with intent to enter and steal domestic property (dwelling and non-dwelling)
  • Attempted housebreaking with intent to enter and steal other property

Theft by opening lockfast places ( OLP)

  • Theft by opening lockfast places (OLP) (excluding motor vehicle)
  • OLP (excluding motor vehicle) with intent to steal
  • Attempted OLP excluding motor vehicle with intent to steal

Theft from a motor vehicle by OLP

Includes:

  • Theft by OLP from a motor vehicle
  • OLP with intent to steal from a motor vehicle
  • Attempted OLP with intent to steal from a motor vehicle

Theft of motor vehicle

  • Theft of a motor vehicle and contents
  • Attempted theft of a motor vehicle

Shoplifting

  • Shoplifting

Other theft

Includes:

  • Theft of pedal cycles
  • Theft from a motor vehicle not elsewhere classified

Fraud

  • Fraud

Other crimes of dishonesty

Includes:

  • Forgery (other)
  • Reset
  • Embezzlement
  • Corruption

Group 4: Fire-raising, vandalism etc.

Fire-raising

Includes:

  • Fire-raising
  • Muirburn

Vandalism, etc. -

Includes:

  • Malicious mischief
  • Vandalism
  • Culpable and reckless conduct (not with firearms)
  • Reckless conduct with firearms

Group 5: Other crimes

Crimes against public justice

Includes:

  • Perjury
  • Resisting arrest
  • Bail offences (other than absconding or re-offending)
  • Wasting police time

Handling offensive weapons

Includes:

  • Possession of an offensive weapon
  • Restriction of offensive weapons
  • Having in a public place an article with a blade or point
  • Having in prison an article with a blade or point
  • Possession of a firearm in a prison
  • Possession of an offensive weapon (not elsewhere specified) in a prison

Drugs

Includes:

  • Importation of drugs
  • Production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs
  • Possession and supply of controlled drugs
  • Related money laundering offences
  • Bringing drugs into prison
  • Psychoactive substance: production, import/export, supply or possession in custody

Other

Includes:

  • Treason
  • Conspiracy
  • Offences relating to serious organised crime
  • Explosives offences
  • Wrecking, piracy and hijacking
  • Crimes against public order

OFFENCES

Group 6: Miscellaneous offences

Common assault

Includes:

  • Common assault
  • Common assault on an emergency worker

For the distinction between Serious assault and Common assault please see Paragraph 7.13 within Annex 1.

Breach of the peace etc.

Includes:

  • Breach of the peace
  • Threatening or abusive behaviour
  • Offence of stalking
  • Offensive behaviour at football
  • Threatening communications (Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act 2012)

Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct

Includes:

  • Drunk and disorderly
  • Drunk and incapable
  • Drunk in charge of a child
  • Drunk and attempting to enter licensed premises
  • Drunk or drinking in unlicensed premises
  • Disorderly on licensed premises
  • Drunk and attempting to enter designated sports ground
  • Refusing to quit licensed premises
  • Consumption of alcohol in designated places, byelaws prohibited

Urinating etc.

Includes:

  • Urinating /defecating

Other

Other (cont.)

Includes:

  • Racially aggravated harassment
  • Racially aggravated conduct
  • False/Hoax calls
  • Offences involving children
  • Offences involving animals/plants
  • Offences against local legislation
  • Offences against liquor licensing laws
  • Labour laws
  • Naval military and air force laws
  • Offences against environmental legislation
  • Consumer protection acts

Group 7: Motor vehicle offences

Dangerous and careless driving

Includes:

  • Dangerous driving offences
  • Driving carelessly

Driving under the influence

Includes:

  • Driving or in charge of motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs
  • Blood alcohol content above limit
  • Failing to provide breath, blood or urine specimens

Speeding

Includes:

  • Speeding in restricted areas
  • Other speeding offences

Unlawful use of vehicle

Includes:

  • Driving while disqualified
  • Driving without a licence
  • Driving without insurance
  • Driving without a test certificate
  • Vehicle tax and registration and identification offences

Vehicle defect offences

Includes:

  • Construction and use regulations
  • Lighting offences

Seat belt offences

  • Seat belt offences

Mobile phone offences

  • Mobile phone offences

Other

Includes:

  • Accident offences
  • Parking offences

Contact

Email: Jamie Macfarlane, jamie.macfarlane@gov.scot

Phone: 0300 244 4000 – Central Enquiry Unit

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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