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Miscellaneous offences account for over half (53%*) of all offences recorded in Scotland in 2018-19. Between 2017-18 and 2018-19, the number of Miscellaneous offences recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 5%, from 137,012 to 130,686.
(*Offences are counted separately to crimes)
What's Included in Miscellaneous Offences?
What's Included in Miscellaneous Offences?
Group 6: Miscellaneous offences
Common assault Includes:
Common assault
Common assault on an emergency worker
For the distinction between Serious assault and Common assault please see Paragraph 7.13 within Annex 1.
Breach of the peace etc.Includes:
Breach of the peace
Threatening or abusive behaviour
Offence of stalking
Offensive behaviour at football
Threatening communications (Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act 2012)
Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct Includes:
Drunk and disorderly
Drunk and incapable
Drunk in charge of a child
Drunk and attempting to enter licensed premises
Drunk or drinking in unlicensed premises
Disorderly on licensed premises
Drunk and attempting to enter designated sports ground
Refusing to quit licensed premises
Consumption of alcohol in designated places, byelaws prohibited
Urinating etc. Includes:
Urinating /defecating
Other
Other (cont.) Includes:
Racially aggravated harassment
Racially aggravated conduct
False/Hoax calls
Offences involving children
Offences involving animals/plants
Air weapons licensing offences
Offences against local legislation
Offences against liquor licensing laws
Labour laws
Naval military and air force laws
Offences against environmental legislation
Consumer protection acts
The chart shows the five categories within Miscellaneous offences over the last ten years. This chart gives an indication of the trend and scale of each category. Common assault and Breach of the peace etc. have consistently been the biggest contributors to Miscellaneous offences.
Common assault is the largest category in Miscellaneous offences, accounting for more than two-fifths (44%) in 2018-19.
A note on 'common assault'
A note on 'common assault'
In Scotland, assault is categorised as a 'common law offence' rather than non-sexual violent crimes unless it is deemed 'serious'.
In order to distinguish between Serious and Common assaults, Police Scotland use a common definition for Serious assault:
"An assault or attack in which the victim sustains injury resulting in detention in hospital as an inpatient, for the treatment of that injury, or any of the following injuries whether or not detained in hospital:
Fractures (the breaking or cracking of a bone. Note – nose is cartilage not bone, so a 'broken nose' should not be classified unless it meets one of the other criteria)
Internal injuries
Severe concussion
Lacerations requiring sutures which may lead to impairment or disfigurement
Any other injury which may lead to impairment or disfigurement."
Breach of the Peace
Breach of the Peace
Breach of the peace etc. includes Breach of the peace, Threatening or abusive behaviour, Stalking, Offensive behaviour at football and Threatening communications
Breach of the peace etc. is the second largest category in Miscellaneous offences, accounting for almost two-fifths (39%) in 2018-19. Over the ten year period from 2009-10 to 2018-19, this category has fallen by more than two-fifths (42%), including a 5% decrease from 53,187 in 2017-18 to 50,708 in 2018-19.
Drunkennes / disorderly conduct:
Drunkennes / disorderly conduct:
Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct includes offences such as Drunk and incapable, Disorderly on licensed premises and Consumption of alcohol in designated places, byelaws prohibited
Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct accounted for 5% of Miscellaneous offences in 2018-19. Despite some fluctuation, levels of this offence fell 83% between 2009-10 and 2018-19. This includes a 22% decrease from 8,635 in 2017-18 to 6,724 in 2018-19.
Urinating
Urinating
Urinating etc. accounted for 2% of Miscellaneous offences in 2018-19. This category generally increased for several years from 2007-08, peaking in 2012- 13. Urinating etc. decreased by 19% from 3,044 in 2017-18 to 2,466 in 2018- 19, the sixth consecutive decrease in these offences.
All local authorities recorded a decrease in this category over the ten year period. Between 2017-18 and 2018-19 seventeen local authorities showed a decrease.
Other Miscellaneous Offences
Other Miscellaneous Offences
The Other miscellaneous offences category includes a wide range of offences, including Racially aggravated harassment, Racially aggravated conduct, False/hoax calls, Offences involving children and Offences involving animals/plants.
Other miscellaneous offences account for 10% of Miscellaneous offences in 2018-19. These offences decreased by 7% from 13,811 in 2017-18 to 12,873 in 2018-19.
Victim Support Scotland is the leading charity dedicated to helping people affected by crime across Scotland.
Victim Support Scotland is the leading charity dedicated to helping people affected by crime across Scotland.
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