Crime and the law (Scotland)

• Categories of Crime

  • Non-sexual crimes of violence
  • Sexual offences
  • Crimes of dishonesty
  • Crimes of fire raising and other
  • Other
• 528 crimes per 10000 population in 2022-23
• Breakdown of crime in 2022-23


  • Crimes of dishonesty - 36%
  • Non-sexual crimes of violence - 24%
  • Crimes against society - 21%
  • Damage and reckless behaviour - 15%
  • Sexual crimes - 5%
• Over the past 10 years the total crime recorded in Scotland has decreased by 13%
• 2022-23 total recorded crime was 289,362. This was 2,898 (1%) higher than the level recorded in 2021-22
• Dundee had the highest crime rate with 849 crimes per 10,000
• South Lanarkshire had a middle crime rate with 489 crimes per 10000
• Orkney Islands had the lowest crime rate with 228 crimes per 10,000
• 
  

  Non-sexual crimes of violence decreased by 1%
• 84% of all non-sexual crimes of violence were common assault
• 
  

  Sexual crimes decreased by 3%
• Sexual crimes are now at the second highest level since 1971
• 
  

  Crimes of dishonesty increased by 11%
• Crimes of dishonesty are at the third lowest level seen since 1971
• 
  

  Damage and reckless behaviour crimes decreased by 3%
• Damage and reckless behaviour crimes are at the second lowest level seen since 1971
• In 2022-23 the clear up rate was 53.3%, down from 54.0% in 2021-22
• Non-sexual crimes of violence (67.3%) and Sexual crime (53.4%) have higher clear up rates in 2022-23 than Crimes of dishonesty (31.0%) and Damage and reckless behaviour (28.8%)
• Nature

  Biological factors
• Nurture


  Social and environmental factors
• Nature - Biological factors

  • Being genetically pre-disposed to (likely to commit) criminal behaviour
• Crime happens to people more often (or less often) depending on several factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, religion, social class, sexual orientation and gender identity
• Between 2014-15 & 2021-22, the number of hate crimes recorded by the police was relatively stable at around 6300 to 7000
• In 2021-22, 62% of hate crimes included an aggravator for race, 27% sexual orientation, 8% disability, 7% religion and 3% transgender identity
• Greed


  The very selfish desire to get more and more of something, often money
• Unemployment


  If someone doesn't have the skills they need to get a job then they are unemployed, which might mean they have fewer options to make a living legally
• Around 28% of all crimes of dishonesty are shoplifting, which suggests people could be stealing items that they cannot afford
• Poverty remains a large problem in Scotland and could be argued to be a main cause of crime
• 45% of all arrivals in prison come from Scotland's 20% most deprived areas
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

  People who experience ACEs can be more likely to commit crimes than others because they do not have an upbringing that shows them how to be a responsible citizen
• Reports suggest that people with multiple ACEs can be up to 20x more likely to spend time in prison at some point in their life
• Alcohol and drug misuse

  Drug and alcohol misuse can lead to crime in two ways - either to fund or meet an addiction, or by committing a crime while under the influence
• Around 40% of Scottish prisoners say they were drunk at the time of the offence and 45% said they were under the influence of drugs (2023)
• Poor education


  Poor education can lead to criminal behaviour because lack of education means limited choices and opportunities which may lead to poverty and criminal activity
• Recent studies have found that around half of prisoners in the UK (around 57%) have a reading level below that of an average 11 year old.
• Hormones


  Hormones in our body affect our growth and brains. Men have higher levels of the hormone testosterone than women which can often make them more aggressive and prone to higher risk taking
• In 2023, the Scottish Prison Service report that 96% of all prisoners in a Scottish prison are male
• The former SNP MP Natalie McGarry was jailed for embezzling more than £25,000, including donations intended for a food bank.
• Nurture 


  The social environment you are surrounded by and grow up with.
• Social environmental factors

  Upbringing and people around may contribute to criminal activity