Recorded crimes fall but fraud rockets
● Crimes during lockdown drop 7% ● Attempted murder and assault up 16%
The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland dropped by 4 percent in August, compared to the same month last year, however the number of incidents of fraud rocketed by 56 per cent.
Crimes committed d uring lockdown from April to August were 7 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 7 per cent higher, however, sexual crimes were 3 per cent lower.
Edinburgh and the Sh etlands 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 maybe 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 a pp lications for UK government grants, and there have been reports of people going doorto-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 S cotland’ s national consumer advice service, consumer advice. 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 Pro - tect scheme will never ask for money.”
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Li am Kerr MSP said: “This rise in vio - lent 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 ur gently 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.