Crap Towns / Kirkwall / Criminal damage
How bad is criminal damage in Kirkwall?
The police recorded 5.8 crimes of criminal damage and arson per 1,000 people a year in Kirkwall from January 2023 to December 2025, 19% lower than the typical Scottish town's 7.2. In the 12 months to December 2025 it was 5.8, up from 5.4 in the 12 months to December 2023.
| Period | Here | Typical Scottish town |
|---|---|---|
| January 2023 to December 2023 | 5.4 | 7.4 |
| January 2024 to December 2024 | 6.2 | 7.1 |
| January 2025 to December 2025 | 5.8 | 6.9 |
| Town | Distance | Crimes per 1,000 people a year |
|---|---|---|
| Elgin | 150.1 km | 10.1 |
| Alness | 162.1 km | 8.7 |
| Buckie | 145.7 km | 8.5 |
| Fraserburgh | 154.5 km | 8.1 |
| Lerwick | 165.5 km | 7.3 |
| Thurso | 54.4 km | 7.0 |
| Wick | 59.9 km | 6.6 |
| Kirkwall | – | 5.8 |
| Nairn | 164.8 km | 4.8 |
| Lossiemouth | 142.4 km | 4.5 |
| Forres | 157.9 km | 4.3 |
| The typical Scottish town | – | 7.2 |