Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending December 2025

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending December 2025.

In the year ending December 2025:

The police in Scotland recorded 308,532 crimes. This was 3% higher than the 298,306 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2024, and 6% higher than the 292,316 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2021.

Non-sexual crimes of violence were 5% higher compared to the year ending December 2024 (increasing from 70,635 to 74,384 crimes), and 13% higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 65,930 to 74,384 crimes).

Sexual crimes were 10% higher compared to the year ending December 2024 (increasing from 14,539 to 16,029 crimes), and 10% higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 14,598 to 16,029 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty were 2% higher compared to the year ending December 2024 (increasing from 111,265 to 113,729 crimes), and 27% higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 89,888 to 113,729 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour was 3% lower compared to the year ending December 2024 (decreasing from 39,249 to 37,962 crimes), and 13% lower compared to the year ending December 2021 (decreasing from 43,428 to 37,962 crimes).

Crimes against society were 6% higher compared to the year ending December 2024 (increasing from 62,618 to 66,428 crimes), and 6% higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 62,824 to 66,428 crimes).

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending December 2025 was 191,153. This is 8% higher than the 177,172 offences recorded in the year ending December 2024, and 5% higher than the 182,071 offences recorded in the year ending December 2021.

Background

The full statistical publication can be accessed at: Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending December 2025.

The statistics provide information on recorded crimes up to year ending December 2025, and the previous four years. For additional and more detailed commentary on the recording of crimes and offences, we recommend users refer to the 2024-25 (or year ending March 2025) Accredited Official Statistics bulletin. This includes time series analysis over the longer term (back to 1971), statistics on cyber-crimes and clear-up rates.

Contraventions of Scottish criminal law are divided for statistical purposes into crimes and offences. ‘Crime’ is generally used for the more serious criminal acts. The less serious termed ‘offences’, although the term ‘offence’ may also be used in relation to serious breaches of criminal law. The distinction is made only for statistical reporting purposes and the ‘seriousness’ of the offence is generally related to the maximum sentence that can be imposed.

Further information on Crime and Justice statistics within Scotland

Accredited Official Statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of Official Statistics