Crime rises above 2019 levels in Scotland for first time since lockdown

Crime rose above 2019 levels for the first time since lockdown was imposed on Scotland.

Crime has risen in Scotland above levels in 2019 for the first time since lockdown.

The rise – of one per cent – is the first time recorded crime has risen above 2019’s levels since March with Police Scotland attributing the rise to levels of crime returning to normal expectations.

The impact of Covid-19 on the justice system has been clear, with the Crown Office also seeing a rise in the number of cases awaiting their ‘first substantive marking’ when prosecutors decide what action will be taken.

That backlog is now ahead of pre-Covid-19 levels and continues to rise, the Scottish Government’s monthly Justice Analytical Services data report stated.

The courts system is also facing an increasing backlog with disposals (court decisions) – down two-thirds on 2019’s monthly average and the number of cases being resolved is still 20 per cent lower in November compared to pre-Covid levels.

However, a Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service spokesperson said the number of High Court trials ongoing is 17 per cent higher than pre-Covid levels due to remote juries with the normal capacity of 16 trials a day restored.

The statistics were labelled “a cause for serious concern” by Scottish Conservative shadow justice spokesman, Liam Kerr.

He said: “The full force of the law must still come down on criminals who are callously taking advantage when society is at its most vulnerable.

“The SNP’s soft touch approach to justice emboldens criminals and badly lets down victims and communities.

“People can see right through SNP claims that crime is falling when the direct experience of those on the ground is completely different.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur added that the police service is “thinly spread” and said more should be done to guard people against fraud which has skyrocketed by 64 per cent in the last year.

He said: “The Scottish Government must ensure that the police have the support and resources they need to operate in these especially challenging circumstances."

Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said online abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people and children for sexual and financial purposes had also “accelerated” during the pandemic.

She added the police is investing additional funds dedicated to tackling cybercrime.

She said: “This underlines that policing must continue to operate in public, private and, increasingly, in virtual spaces to provide education, re-assurance and enforcement.

A Crown Office spokesperson attributed the rapid rise in unmarked cases to a “fluctuation” of workload.

He said: "The COPFS is working with justice partners on a system-wide response to the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, and is committed to working collaboratively to ensure the justice system fully recovers.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson added: “While there can be fluctuations when comparing over short time periods, by all main measures crime including violent crime is now considerably lower than a decade ago, with fewer victims.

“Police recorded crime was almost a quarter lower last year than a decade before, and at one of the lowest levels since 1974.

“We are determined to build on the progress made, continuing our comprehensive approach to keeping Scotland’s communities safe, including investment in violence reduction and wider crime prevention initiatives on top of core police funding.”

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