“Disgrace”: Eight in ten Edinburgh housebreakings go unsolved

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has warned that SNP mismanagement has left policing in Edinburgh at breaking point as new figures reveal the majority of housebreakings go unsolved.

Latest recorded crime statistics show that in 2022-23 there were 1449 housebreakings recorded in the City of Edinburgh. In the same year a shocking 80 per cent of housebreakings were not cleared up.

A crime or offence is regarded as “cleared up” where there exists a sufficiency of evidence under Scots law to justify consideration of criminal proceedings – meaning the majority of housebreakings in Edinburgh have gone unsolved.

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has said these figures expose the pressure policing in the City of Edinburgh is under, and warned the SNP-Green government against cuts in the area.


Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “The revelation that 8 out of 10 housebreakings in Edinburgh remain unsolved is nothing short of a disgrace.

“These shocking figures reveal the pressure police in Edinburgh are under, with years of SNP mismanagement pushing services to breaking point.

“Housebreaking can cause its victims both financial loss and serious distress, and it will add insult to injury that so many perpetrators get off scot-free.

“It is high time for our government to prioritise public safety, allocate adequate funding, and ensure that police have the resources they need to tackle crime and keep our city safe.

“The residents of Edinburgh deserve better.”

Recorded crime 2022-23 – housebreakings:

Housebreakings2022-23% Not Cleared Number /10 not cleared 
Scotland879674.57
Aberdeen City34759.46
Aberdeenshire168758
Angus16061.96
Argyll & Bute6873.57
Clackmannanshire6785.19
Dumfries & Galloway194667
Dundee City43468.77
East Ayrshire17071.27
East Dunbartonshire11369.97
East Lothian22866.77
East Renfrewshire12980.68
Edinburgh, City of144980.38
Falkirk23180.58
Fife63866.97
Glasgow City122379.78
Highland25967.27
Inverclyde14569.77
Midlothian20182.18
Moray12265.67
Na h-Eileanan Siar4253
North Ayrshire18770.17
North Lanarkshire56176.88
Orkney Islands5404
Perth & Kinross217707
Renfrewshire19178.58
Scottish Borders16683.18
Shetland Islands8758
South Ayrshire17065.97
South Lanarkshire38876.88
Stirling12477.48
West Dunbartonshire14679.58
West Lothian28379.58

SourSource:ce https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2022-23/

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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer