Crime - % change from the previous year in the number of crimes recorded (c06)

• This measures the percentage change in the number of crimes recorded from one year to the next.
• This includes all crime recorded in six categories - damage and reckless behaviour, crimes of dishonesty, crimes against society, sexual crimes, non-sexual crimes of violence, and coronavirus restrictions.
• Statistics on recorded crimes provide a measure of volume of criminal activity which the police face. This does not reveal the incidence of all crime committed as not all crimes are reported to the police. 

Why this matters

• Measuring changes in recorded crime matters because crime directly affects people’s ability to work, learn, run businesses, and feel safe in their neighbourhoods. Understanding these trends helps support vulnerable groups, target regeneration, and invest in preventative approaches that make places safer.
• Monitoring crime rates also show which local interventions are driving real change. Whether it’s youth services, CCTV, improved lighting, or community safety partnerships, trends in recorded crime help identify what works and where investment has the greatest impact in communities.

Latest performance

How North Lanarkshire has performed

Latest results show a decrease in recorded crime in North Lanarkshire (-0.6%) from the previous year. 

• The latest results (Figure 06a) show a decrease in the number of crimes recorded in North Lanarkshire from 2023/24 to 2024/25 of -0.6% (from 19,504 to 19,384).
• This is an improvement from the position reported last year where there had been an increase of 4% recorded (from 18,751 to 19,504).
• The latest results (-0.6%) show improvement from The Plan for North Lanarkshire the baseline (+3.3%) in terms of the change in recorded crime from the previous year.
• Since The Plan for North Lanarkshire baseline recorded crime has dropped 5% overall from 20,425 to 19,384 (Figure 06b), compared to a drop of 1.7% nationally and 1.4% for the group of similar councils.
• Figure 6c provides a breakdown of the crimes recorded by category with crimes of dishonesty remaining at the highest level albeit showing reductions over the years.  As there is only data for 2020 to 2022 for coronavirus restrictions, Figure 6c doesn’t show this category.

The trend in recorded crime in North Lanarkshire is mirrored in the comparison with the national average, although numbers have decreased to a greater extent in North Lanarkshire over the period.  The position in North Lanarkshire is also better than the comparative average for the group of similar councils which conversely experienced an increase of 0.1% from last year’s figures. 

The pandemic, and associated measures to limit social contact, had an impact on both the type and volume of crime recorded between March 2020 and the lifting of final legal restrictions in April 2022.

Impact of delivering The Plan for North Lanarkshire

When recorded crime decreases, communities feel safer and more confident visiting and using local spaces. This increased footfall supports small businesses and makes neighbourhoods more vibrant. Safer places become more attractive to live in, work in, and invest in - encouraging employers, developers, and new enterprises to choose the area. Lower crime helps sustain stable jobs, creates new economic opportunities, and builds a stronger sense of pride and belonging across all communities.

Falling crime reduces pressure on public services, boosts community wellbeing, and increases the attractiveness of local areas for inward investment and jobs.