Key points

In financial year 2025-26, the following Adult Support and Protection (ASP) activity was reported across Scotland:

• There were 67,971 ASP referrals reported in 2025-26. Police Scotland was the most common source of reported referrals (20% of all referrals). Due to a change in the recording process by two local authorities compared to 2024-25, a comparison with 2024-25 is not possible.
• A total of 51,373 ASP inquiries were reported as being undertaken. This was a rise of 9% compared to 2024-25 (47,314).
• Of those inquiries in 2025-26, 29% (14,819) were undertaken with the use of investigatory powers, and 71% (36,554) were undertaken without the use of investigatory powers.
• Following inquiries, 2,846 newly commenced Adult Support and Protection Plans (ASPPs) were reported. This is an increase of 14% compared to 2024–25 (2,504).
• A total of 75 protection orders were reported as granted in 2025-26, across the 31 local authorities who collect data on protection orders granted. This was a 23% reduction in the total number of protection orders granted compared to 2024-25 (97), across the same local authorities.
• The number of Large Scale Investigations (LSIs) reported was 58. This was an increase of nine LSIs compared to 2024-25 (49), but was lower than the 76 reported for 2023-24. More than half of reported LSIs in 2025-26 (33, or 57% of LSIs) were reported as taking place in care homes.
• Adults at risk of harm experience a wide range of underlying conditions including mental health problems, substance misuse, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and infirmity due to age. For inquiries undertaken with the use of investigatory powers in 2025-26, the most common primary client groups reported were ‘mental health (excluding dementia)’ (20%) and ‘dementia’ (18%).
• The most common primary location of harm reported, for inquiries undertaken with the use of investigatory powers, was the individual’s ‘own home’ (64%), followed by ‘care home’ (17%).
• The most common primary harm type reported, for inquiries undertaken with the use of investigatory powers, was ‘Physical harm’ (21%). Self-inflicted harms (‘self neglect’ and ‘self harm’) were also common primary types of harm reported (at 20% and 8%, respectively).
• The largest number of inquiries reported as being undertaken, by age and gender, was for people reported as female and aged 85+, at 5,869 (or 12% of the 49,953 inquiries for which an age and gender were reported). 

Changes seen over time may not necessarily indicate changes in the numbers of adults experiencing harm. They may reflect a range of factors which could include: changing need within the population supported; increasing public and professional awareness of Adult Support and Protection; improved identification of potential harms; and differing levels of risk presented by individual cases.

There are data quality notes associated with many of these statistics. Also, not all statistics for 2025-26 are comparable with those in the 2024-25 publication. Please see the relevant following sections, or the data and methodology chapter of the accompanying technical report, for more information.