A STUDY by a leading UK insurance company has discovered the safest areas and most common type of crime in each local authority in Scotland. The study analysed Gov.Scot data on the number and type of crimes committed between 2020 and 2021.
Orkney Islands has the lowest rate of crimes over the past year of 143.8 per 10,000 people, compared to the rest of Scotland. It has reported 322 crimes in total between 2020/21. The most commonly reported crime in this area were crimes of dishonesty with 68, which include, fraud, embezzlement, theft and white-collar crime.
Shetland Island has reported the second-lowest rate of crimes compared to any other local authority area at 452 in total between 2020/21. The city places just above Orkney Islands with 195.1 crimes per 10,000 people. The most common crime in this area were fire-raising and vandalism related incidents.
The area with the third-smallest level of crime is Na H-Eileanan Siar; per 10,000 people, they experience 205.3 crimes. The most commonly reported crimes are those of dishonesty which include, fraud, theft and online crime.
East Renfrewshire has the fourth-smallest rate of reported crimes with 225.3 per 10,000. In the past year, this area reported 2,164 crimes with crimes of dishonesty being most commonly reported. Despite having more than three times the population of the Orkney and Shetland Islands, this area only experiences around 20 more crimes per 10,000 people.
Aberdeenshire has the seventh-highest population out of all 32 local authority areas in Scotland but has the fifth-lowest crime rate. This area reports 240.2 crimes per 10,000 people and Crimes of dishonesty are the most commonly reported crimes in this area with 2,332 between 2020/21.
Moray is the sixth safest area in Scotland with 263.9 crimes per 10,000 people. In total, this area saw 2,526 police-reported incidents over the past year with the most common crime reported in this area being crimes of dishonesty at 864 in total.
Despite having the second-highest population, East Dunbartonshire places as the area with the seventh-lowest crime rate. Between 2020 and 2021, there were 286.3 crimes reported per 10,000. This area reports 345.7 fewer crimes per 10,000 people than West Dunbartonshire.
Angus comes in as the eighth safest area in Scotland with 293 reported crimes per 10,000 people. 712 fire-raising and vandalism crimes were reported in this area while double the number of crimes of dishonesty were reported.
Argyll & Bute is the area with the ninth-lowest crime rate. Between 2020 and 2021, 309.2 crimes were reported per 10,000 people.
Scottish Borders places as the tenth safest area with 318.9 per 10,000 people. Non-sexual crimes of violence were the crimes least reported in this area with 142 while crimes of dishonesty were the crimes with the highest level of 1,284.
A spokesperson from A-Plan Insurance commented on the findings: “Protecting ourselves from crime is an essential part of everyday life and this study very interestingly shows that the type of crime committed across the country varies by region. Despite this research demonstrating these low-level crime areas in Scotland, it also highlights that no area is completely free from crime and therefore we need to remain vigilant in all parts of our lives, whether we’re at home, out and about or online.”
| The Top 10 Safest areas of Scotland | |
| Local Authority | Total Reported Crimes per 10,000 people |
| Orkney Islands | 143.8 |
| Shetland Islands | 195.1 |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 205.3 |
| East Renfrewshire | 225.3 |
| Aberdeenshire | 240.2 |
| Moray | 263.9 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 286.3 |
| Angus | 293.0 |
| Argyll & Bute | 309.2 |
| Scottish Borders | 318.9 |
The research was carried out by A-Plan Insurance, which has more than 100 high street branches nationwide. The company, established in the 1960s, provides a personalised service to more than 600,000 clients.
