Fraud rockets in August as crime drops overall
Crimes committed during the lockdown period from April to August were seven per cent lower overall, according to figures released by the Scottish Government.
The latest ‘Recorded Crime in Scotland’ bulletin from the Scottish Government showed that attempted murder and serious assault was up by 16 per cent in August compared to last year and “other violence” rose by 30 per cent. Non-sexual crimes of violence were seven per cent higher, however, sexual crimes were three per cent lower.
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Hide AdEdinburgh and the Shetlands saw the biggest drop in number of crimes in August compared to twelve months earlier, at 34 and 38 per cent respectively, however Moray was one of only 14 local authorities to record a rise, at 19 per cent.
The report said: “Compared to August 2019, a reduction in recorded crime was seen in 18 out of 32 local authorities, with the remaining 14 showing an increase.”
There were 1,354 fraud crimes in August, up by 488 compared to the same month in 2019. The report said that while the figures may be skewed by the introduction of a procedural change made in April to how the crimes are recorded, it is likely that fraud is rising.
Earlier this week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned of a sharp rise in scams related to coronavirus.
Local authorities have reported fraudulent applications for UK government grants, and there have been reports of people going door-to-door pretending to be NHS workers collecting donations or offering to spray paths and driveways with anti-bacterial treatment for cash.
Marjorie Gibson, head of operations with Scotland’s national consumer advice service, consumeradvice.scot, said: “These latest figures suggest that fraudsters are still trying to exploit the public health crisis by preying on people and businesses.
“We urge everyone to be vigilant as fraudsters can sound very plausible and persuasive, and it can be easy to be taken in by them.
“It’s always important to check emails very carefully and not to immediately contract with someone who cold calls. The Test and Protect scheme will never ask for money.”
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Hide AdScottish Labour’s MSP Rhoda Grant said: “The sharp rise in fraud is partly a reflection of how it has been measured in the past and it is welcome that those figures are now more reflective of the true picture.
“Anecdotally we all know fraud is on the increase, with worrying signs of many scams linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. This is a crime that often preys on the most vulnerable, so it is imperative that it is properly identified and acted upon. The Police must have the necessary expertise and resources to tackle what are increasingly sophisticated, but devastating, crimes.”
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said that the figures showed a rising trend.
He said: “This rise in violent crimes over the last year in Scotland is alarming. These figures aren’t just a one-off, they are part of a wider trend under the SNP which has presided over a soft-touch justice system for too long.
He added: “It is time for the SNP justice secretary to stop his warm words and spin and instead urgently recognise the need to prioritise resources towards tackling violent crime.”
The report is the fifth edition of a monthly release of official statistics on crimes recorded by the police in Scotland to inform users about the volume and type of offences recorded during the Coronavirus pandemic.