Crime Definitions

For the purposes of these statistics Group 1 and Group 2 has been combined into Serious Violent Crime (SVC). This is to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act.

Group 1 – Crimes of violence against the person (non-sexual)

Violent crime occurs throughout society both in public and private. The police can influence behaviour to a limited extent by various means including:

  • Increased patrol in identified hotspots
  • Ensuring compliance with licensing legislation
  • Initiatives targeting specific individuals or groups
  • Initiatives targeting the carrying of knives and other offensive weapons.

There are a number of areas, however, where the police are unable to prevent incidents such as spontaneous acts of violence occurring in a private/domestic situation. Academic research and experience shows that alcohol and/or drugs are often contributory factors to violent behaviour. Police preventative measures have included those with partners and long-term multi-agency initiatives aimed at tackling repeat victimisation, such as Zero Tolerance.

This group includes - Murder, Attempted Murder, Serious Assault; Robbery and Assault with intent to Rob; Cruelty to Children; Threats and Extortion.

Group 2 - Crimes of indecency

Crimes of indecency remain relatively low in number compared to some other categories; however the effect on victims of crimes in this category is often very serious indeed.

Many crime types in this category tend to have been committed prior to this reporting period, and there are often fluctuations in the figures as investigations uncover evidence to allow crime reports to be submitted in batches. As described below, crimes committed many years ago are recorded at the time they are reported. Due to the nature of the crimes within this group it has been recognised that there may be a number of crimes never reported to the Police and is referred to as underreporting.

This group includes: Rape, indecent assault, lewd and libidinous practices.

Group 3 – Crimes involving dishonesty

Crimes of dishonesty account for almost half of all recorded crime. Most are recorded at the time of the crime or shortly thereafter, but other categories such as fraud and embezzlement are often historically recorded. Many forces have priorities within this group and they tend to be in areas where the most vulnerable are victims such as domestic housebreakings. Forces often undertake initiatives into crime types not covered by national priorities where particular spates of crimes become prevalent – for instance motor vehicle crime. These tend to be short-term initiatives and targeted at local level but can influence figures.

This group includes – Thefts including Housebreaking or Opening Lockfast Places (OLP), Thefts of and from motor vehicles and Fraud.

Group 4 – Fireraising, malicious damage and reckless conduct

These crimes contribute significantly to the overall crime figure, in terms of numbers recorded but more significantly in terms of the difficulty in detecting crime in this group, which traditionally has a relatively lower detection rate.

Some forces, and areas of other forces, have been addressing these issues and have developed successful methods of dealing with both prevention and detection.

This group includes - Vandalism, Malicious Mischief, Fire-raising, and Reckless Conduct.

Group 5 – Other crimes not included in Groups 1 to 4

These crimes are often regarded as a measure of the amount of 'pro-active' work a police force undertakes. The crime types included within this group are often crimes against society rather than individuals. The nature of these crimes means that a very high detection rate is normal for this group.

When the crimes in this group decrease, it may be a sign of officers being deployed in a way that negates against them being able to undertake these pro-active duties e.g. during periods where several protracted and resource intensive enquires might be underway.

This group includes - All drugs offences, carry offensive weapons (including knives), bail offences, and crimes against justice such as Perjury.

Group 6 – Miscellaneous Offences

This group contains a mixture of proactive (e.g. consuming alcohol in public places) and reactive offences (e.g. petty assault).

Many of the offences in this Group may be described as involving or exhibiting anti-social behaviour (e.g. breach of the peace, petty assault, racially aggravated conduct or harassment and alcohol related offences) which in some forces can be dealt with by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.

Group 7 – Offences relating to motor vehicles

This group includes road traffic offences such as speeding, seat belt and mobile phone offences, motor vehicle defects, conditional offers (endorsable and non-endorsable), tickets issued by Camera Safety Partnerships (or force equivalent) and Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (VDRS) notices.


Definitions of Sub Crime Classifications

SVC - Murder (incl. culpable homicide). Culpable homicide includes: culpable homicide (common law); causing death by dangerous driving, death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs, causing death by careless driving, illegal driver, disqualified/unlicensed etc involved in fatal accident, and corporate manslaughter.

SVC – Serious Assault. The agreed definition of “serious assault” is as follows:

  • A serious assault is an assault in which the victim sustains an injury resulting in detention in hospital as an in-patient for the treatment of that injury, or any of the following injuries, whether or not detained in hospital; fractures (mean the breaking or cracking of a bone), internal injuries, severe concussion, loss of consciousness, lacerations requiring sutures which may lead to impairment or disfigurement.
  • Please note – nose is cartilage, not bone, so a 'broken nose' should not be classified as a serious assault unless it meets one of the other criteria.

SVC – Indecent Assault. Includes: indecent assault, lewd and libidinous practices and public indecency (formerly indecent exposure).

SVC – Other Violence/Indecency Crimes. Includes all other Group 1 and Group 2 crimes not specifically listed, for example threats and extortion, cruelty to children, abduction, incest, bestiality, grooming children for the purposes of sexual offences.

Housebreaking. The general category "housebreaking" includes the following:

  • theft by housebreaking;
  • housebreaking with intent to steal; and
  • attempted housebreaking with intent to enter and steal.

Housebreaking is further disaggregated by Domestic Dwelling and “Other” (which includes domestic non-dwellings and “other”). The definitions of these categories are provided below.

Domestic Dwelling

  • A house which is being used or fit for residential purposes
  • Static residential caravans
  • Houses which are unfinished / under renovation but are capable of being secured against intrusion (e.g. lock on door) which are roofed and have windows and doors fitted are classed as dwelling houses
  • Boarding House - should be classed as a dwelling house when the owner resides permanently on the premises
  • Domestic garage which is an integral part of a dwellinghouse

Domestic non-Dwelling

  • All roofed buildings used for domestic purposes other than dwellings
  • Domestic garages which are not an integral part of a dwellinghouse
  • Garden huts / garden sheds
  • Outhouses

Other

  • All roofed buildings not used for residential or domestic purposes i.e., commercial premises
  • Portacabins – Not used for storage
    Note: Portacabins used for storage and non-static caravans should be classified as Opening a Lockfast Place (OLP)
  • Commercial / Business premises
  • Factory buildings
  • Park huts
  • Show houses (used purely for that purpose)
  • Boarding House - should be classed as 'Other' when the owner does not reside permanently on the premises

Motor Vehicle Crime. Theft by opening lock-fast place (OLP) from a motor vehicle, OLP with intent to steal from a motor vehicle, attempted OLP with intent to steal from a motor vehicle, theft of motor vehicle and contents including taking and driving away, theft from a motor vehicle (not elsewhere classified) and attempted theft of a motor vehicle.

Other Dishonesty including (for example) fraud, forgery, corruption, reset, bankruptcy.

Vandalism/Fireraising etc includes all Group 4 crimes, for example: fireraising, vandalism, reckless damage and malicious mischief, reckless conduct with firearms, endangering rail passengers, reckless driving at common law, Computer Misuse Act 1990 or culpable and reckless conduct (not with firearms).

Offensive Weapons/Knives includes carrying or possession of an offensive weapon, restriction of offensive weapons, carrying a bladed or pointed instrument. The specific legislation is as follows:

  • Criminal Law (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 1995 Sections 47, 49 and 49A
  • Criminal Justice Act 1998 Sections 141 and 141A
  • Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 (as amended)

However, before 1997 offensive weapons/knives also included Carrying of Knives etc (Scotland) Act 1993 Section 1. This was repealed in 1996 with the introduction of the by the Criminal Law (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 1995.

Drug – Supply includes: illegal importation, production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs and money laundering offences.

Petty Assault includes: minor (or common) assault and minor assault of an emergency worker.

Other Misc. Crimes includes all other Group 5 crimes not shown on the list.

Other Misc. Offences includes all other Group 6 offences not shown on the list.