Written Question · S6W-04303 · Session 6
How many (a) reported incidents of, (b) prosecutions for and (c) convictions for wildlife crime there have been in each of the last five ye…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) reported incidents of, (b) prosecutions for and (c) convictions for wildlife crime there have been in each of the last five years.
The answer
(a) The latest available information for Recorded crime data is for the financial year 2020-21 and is presented in the following table:
Wildlife crime Recorded by Police Scotland, 2016-17 to 2020-21
Financial year
Total
2016-17
231
2017-18
236
2018-19
171
2019-20
198
2020-21
308
Source: Recorded Crime in Scotland National Statistics Dataset
(b)(c) The latest available information for criminal proceedings is for the financial year 2019-20 and is presented in the following table:
People proceeded against in Scottish courts for wildlife crimes, where main charge, 2015-16 to 2019-20
Financial year
Total prosecuted
Total convicted
2015-16
25
20
2016-17
23
22
2017-18
29
25
2018-19
15
10
2019-20
12
11
Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database
The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable for a number of reasons. Recorded crime statistics count crimes and offences at the time that they came to the attention of Police Scotland while criminal proceedings statistics report on cases which have concluded in court. This means that a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year. In addition, a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime, or a set of crimes with more than one victim, in a proceeding, but only the main charge is counted in these court proceedings statistics. There is also the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Crimes and offences alleged to have been committed by children under 16 years old are also generally dealt with through the children’s hearings system rather than through the courts.
Wildlife crime Recorded by Police Scotland, 2016-17 to 2020-21
Financial year
Total
2016-17
231
2017-18
236
2018-19
171
2019-20
198
2020-21
308
Source: Recorded Crime in Scotland National Statistics Dataset
(b)(c) The latest available information for criminal proceedings is for the financial year 2019-20 and is presented in the following table:
People proceeded against in Scottish courts for wildlife crimes, where main charge, 2015-16 to 2019-20
Financial year
Total prosecuted
Total convicted
2015-16
25
20
2016-17
23
22
2017-18
29
25
2018-19
15
10
2019-20
12
11
Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database
The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable for a number of reasons. Recorded crime statistics count crimes and offences at the time that they came to the attention of Police Scotland while criminal proceedings statistics report on cases which have concluded in court. This means that a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year. In addition, a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime, or a set of crimes with more than one victim, in a proceeding, but only the main charge is counted in these court proceedings statistics. There is also the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Crimes and offences alleged to have been committed by children under 16 years old are also generally dealt with through the children’s hearings system rather than through the courts.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-04303 by reference.