Homicide in Scotland 2022-23

Location of homicides

(Tables 2 and 3)

In 2022-23, Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire and City of Edinburgh had the highest number of homicide victims (seven each) (Table 2). In all 3 areas the share of national homicide victims was higher than their share of Scotland’s population, albeit only slightly so in Glasgow City.^[1]

• 13% versus 6% in North Lanarkshire
• 13% versus 10% in City of Edinburgh
• 13% versus 12% in Glasgow City

It is important to note however that victims may not necessarily reside in the local authority where the homicide took place.

Glasgow City has witnessed a relatively larger fall in homicides than Scotland as a whole in the last 20 years. Over the latest five year period from 2018-19 to 2022-23 there have been 51 homicides in Glasgow, a 70% reduction compared to 171 for the five year period from 2003-04 to 2007-08. This compares to a 49% reduction in Scotland as a whole between these periods.

In 2022-23, 67% of homicides occurred within a residential location (dwelling and other residential), 29% in outdoor public places (street, footpath and open outdoor area) and 2% in indoor public places (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Most homicides are located in residential dwellings