Overall crime down – but increase in fraudsters exploiting Covid-19 lockdown

Recent intelligence from Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce found fraudsters were exploiting the coronavirus pandemic by targeting those most vulnerable at home and in the care sector.

Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, chair the Taskforce, said: “While many types of crime have fallen in recent months, we know that some people have been using lockdown as a chance to commit offences, notably fraud – including targeting some of our most vulnerable citizens and exploiting businesses.

“We must remain vigilant to such criminals, and also to the risks of harm against those who may be living in fear of abuse and violence within their own homes.”

Recent crimes highlighted by the Taskforce include:

• A care home in the Forth Valley area left without a PPE (personal protective equipment) order after the supplier claimed they had not received the £10,000 payment, despite it being sent. A police investigation showed that the payment had been moved from the bank account it was paid into and they believe organised criminals were behind it; and
• £10,000 fraud intercepted by Scottish Borders Council when an application for a business support grant was hacked by criminals who requested the redirection of the payment to a different bank account.

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Angela McLaren said: “During the current pandemic, we are seeing targeted attempts by fraudsters to adapt well-known techniques to include references to Covid-19, lockdown measures and PPE. We remain vigilant to this and circulate alerts and preventative messages, not just those associated with Covid-19, where appropriate.”

While fraud was 38 per cent higher (or 298 crimes) in April 2020 than in April 2019, Scotland’s Chief Statistician cautioned that there were two reasons why “some care is advised before attributing all of this change to the specific circumstances of the Covid-related lockdown”.

“The first is that the recorded crime national statistics have highlighted an increasing trend in recorded fraud over a number of years (up 40 per cent between 2014/15 and 2018/19), which may be continuing. The second is that a procedural change was made in April 2020 to how some crimes of fraud (and other types of crime which could involve a victim and a perpetrator in different physical locations) are recorded,” he said.

The latest Scottish government statistics show a total of 17,171 crimes were reported in April, representing an 18 per cent reduction (or 3,823 fewer crimes) compared with the 20,994 crimes recorded in April 2019.

Non-sexual crimes of violence fell by 14 per cent, with a 13 per cent decrease in crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse Act 2018.

Recorded sexual crimes were 26 per cent lower overall, prompted mainly by a drop in offences of sexual assault (down by 46 per cent) and rape and attempted rape (down by 27 per cent).

Mr Yousaf said: “Some women and children may feel very isolated now, and need our help more than ever. My message to anyone experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence is absolutely clear: while you may feel vulnerable and unseen, you are not alone. Help from police and support services is still available round the clock.

“We know that criminals may also be using lockdown as a chance to exploit the vulnerable, especially those most at risk at home and in the care sector. This behaviour is absolutely abhorrent and we, along with the police, are determined to pursue those who set out to cause harm and misery to our communities.”

Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone added: “The recorded crime figures show some changes to the demands on policing but it will undoubtedly take months, or even years, before we understand the true impact of the coronavirus pandemic on crime levels in Scotland.

“Our officers will continue to pursue fraudsters who set out to cause harm and misery to our communities. I know that private and virtual spaces are not safe places for some people and that the current restrictions may expose them to a greater risk of abuse, harm and neglect.

“Police Scotland will always pursue reports of domestic abuse or sexual crime whenever they occur and will continue to support those who feel vulnerable in our communities, particularly during this challenging time. Police Scotland is here to help 24 hours a day.”

Other findings show:

• Crimes of dishonesty were down by 24 per cent (from 9,459 to 7,177);
• Fire-raising, vandalism, and related offences were 26 per cent lower (reducing from 4,233 to 3,148); and
• Other crimes remained relatively unchanged, at one per cent lower (down from 5,507 to 5,429).

Fewer crimes were also recorded by Police Scotland in all but two local authorities. Over the same time period:

• The number of offences recorded by the Police Scotland was 29 per cent lower in April 2020 than in April 2019, reducing from 21,644 to 15,449.
• Miscellaneous offences were down 16 per cent (11,047 to 9,306); and
• Motor vehicle offences fell by 42 per cent (from 10,597 to 6,143).

However, the total figure for recorded crime during April excludes the new crimes being recorded under the recently enacted coronavirus legislation.

This latest crime bulletin from Scotland’s Chief Statistician is the first edition of a new monthly release of official statistics on crimes and offences recorded by Police Scotland. These figures will continue to be published each month, covering the period of April to September 2020. After that point, the Scottish Crime Recording Board will review whether this process should continue.