Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending September 2025
An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland
Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending September 2025.
In the year ending September 2025:
The police in Scotland recorded 305,925 crimes. This was 2% higher than the 300,136 crimes recorded in the year ending September 2024, and 3% higher than the 297,712 crimes recorded in the year ending September 2021.
Non-sexual crimes of violence were 3% higher compared to the year ending September 2024 (increasing from 71,004 to 73,033 crimes), and 14% higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 64,147 to 73,033 crimes).
Sexual crimes were 7% higher compared to the year ending September 2024 (increasing from 14,651 to 15,704 crimes), and 12% higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 14,052 to 15,704 crimes).
Crimes of dishonesty were less than 1% higher compared to the year ending September 2024 (increasing from 112,324 to 112,830 crimes), and 26% higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 89,385 to 112,830 crimes).
Damage and reckless behaviour was 4% lower compared to the year ending September 2024 (decreasing from 40,011 to 38,569 crimes), and 12% lower compared to the year ending September 2021 (decreasing from 43,831 to 38,569 crimes).
Crimes against society were 6% higher compared to the year ending September 2024 (increasing from 62,146 to 65,789 crimes), but 1% lower compared to the year ending September 2021 (decreasing from 66,436 to 65,789 crimes).
The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending September 2025 was 189,019. This is 3% higher than the 184,084 offences recorded in the year ending September 2024, and 2% higher than the 185,863 offences recorded in the year ending September 2021.
Background
- The full statistical publication can be accessed at: Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending September 2025.
- The statistics provide information on recorded crimes up to year ending September 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 can be accessed at: Crime and justice statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Accredited Official Statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of Official Statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: Statistics and research - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)