ALMOST one in five adults in Scotland was a victim of crime last year, according to the latest figures.
The research also found that almost one in 10 people was the victim of a fraud or computer misuse crime, in the first analysis of such offences by the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS).
The 2023-24 survey estimates that 1,185,000 crimes happened in Scotland in that time frame.
It found that 19.9% of adults were estimated to have experienced at least one crime, and this included property offences (10.3%), violence (2.9%) and fraud and computer misuse (9.5%).
Fraud and computer misuse are estimated to account for more than two-fifths (44%) of all crimes in the latest year, with almost half of these offences (47%) being bank and credit card fraud.
The proportion of adults who experienced at least one property or violent crime increased from 10.0% in 2021-22 to 12.1% in 2023-24.
The figures showed that, similar to previous years, the majority of violent incidents were cases of minor assault resulting in no or negligible injury (61%), while instances of serious assault (8%) and robbery (5%) remained relatively uncommon.
The report noted that the proportion of violent crime offenders aged under 16 was 31%, the highest level recorded by the SCJS.
However, it noted that this increase is based on a single year and said it will be “important to monitor future surveys to see if this is a new trend.”
The survey found that while the volume of property and violent crime combined has increased since 2021-22, it remains at similar levels to the pre-pandemic position in 2019-20 and below that in 2008-09.
Scotland’s Justice Secretary, Angela Constance, said: “Crime continues to be down significantly over the long term, though the survey does highlight areas of concern and the need for continued action from governments and justice partners.
“While the levels of crime experienced remain similar to the pre-pandemic position in 2019-20, I am keen to understand what has contributed to the rises in crime identified since the 2021-22 survey.
“I am also concerned about levels of fraud and computer misuse, including bank and credit card fraud, which can cause significant harm to individuals and businesses.
“A range of action will continue to enhance Police Scotland’s response to fraud, to raise awareness among the public of the potential risks and to help protect individuals and organisations from cyber criminals.
“Overall, and importantly, this survey shows most people do not experience any crime and only a very small proportion are affected by violent crime, but I have been consistently clear that any incidence of violence is one too many.
“That is why we are taking forward a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, funded with more than £6 million invested over the past three years on top of our record funding for police.”
The survey also found that less than half of adults in Scotland (45%) believed the police in their local area were doing an “excellent” or “good” job in 2023-24, down from 61% in 2012-13 and 49% in 2021-22.
However, in 2023-24, the majority of adults in Scotland said they felt very or fairly safe walking alone in their local area after dark (75%) and when in their home alone at night (95%).
These findings were based on a survey of 4973 adults (aged 16 or over) living in private households in Scotland with interviews conducted between July 2023 and April 2024.
