Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Crimes against society

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, the number of Crimes against society recorded by the police in Scotland increased by 3%, from 61,650 to 63,398 crimes. In the last 10 years, the number of Crimes against society has increased by 7% from 59,218 in 2015-16 to 63,398 in 2024-25.

Figure 18. Crimes against society have decreased significantly since 2006-07 but have remained above 50,000 since 1997-98.

Crimes against society recorded by the police, 1971 to 1994, 1995‑96 to 2024-25.

Note: Data are incomplete for 1975 due to local government reorganisation.

Figure 18 above shows the number of Crimes against society from 1971 onwards. Levels of Crimes against society increased until they peaked in 2006-07, before entering a downward trend until 2016-17. It should be noted that a key part of the overall increase since 2016-17 is due to a procedural change in the recording of crimes of handling an offensive weapon (see later in this section for further information). Crimes against society remain 25% lower than the peak in 2006-07.

The national rate of Crimes against society was 115 crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25. This has increased from 112 crimes per 10,000 population in 2023-24, and from 111 crimes per 10,000 population in 2015-16.

Figure 19. What makes up Crimes against society?

Proportions of Crimes against society by crime category, Scotland, 2024-25.

Figure 19 above shows the proportion of Crimes against society that each crime category represents in Scotland in 2024-25.

Figure 20 below presents the crime categories within Crimes against society over the latest 10 years and gives an indication of the trend and scale of each category.

Figure 20. Crimes against public justice and Drugs - Possession have consistently been the largest two categories of Crimes against society over the last 10 years.

Crimes against society recorded by the police, by category, Scotland, 2015-16 to 2024-25.

Note: There was a procedural change to the counting of crimes of handling an offensive weapon in 2017-18. As such, the significant rise in the total number of recorded crimes of handling an offensive weapon shown for that year does not represent a real increase in these crimes.

Further details on some categories can be found in the 'Supporting documents' Excel workbook.

Crimes against public justice

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded Crimes against public justice increased by 6% from 25,205 to 26,617crimes. There was a 31% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 20,361 to 26,617 crimes.

This category includes a range of crimes, including Bail offences, Resisting arrest and General attempts to pervert the course of justice. Increases since both 2023-24 and 2015-16 have been driven by an increase in Bail offences other than absconding/re-offending. These have increased by 4% (or 474 crimes) since 2023-24 and by 55% (or 4,595 crimes) since 2015-16.

Handling offensive weapons

In 2017-18, the Scottish Crime Recording Board made a procedural change to how some crimes of handling an offensive weapon were recorded. This has had an impact on the comparability of the recorded crime statistics before and after this point.

Prior to 2017-18, statistics on handling offensive weapons in public places only include incidents where the perpetrator did not commit further crimes with the weapon. If they had, the specific crime of handling an offensive weapon was considered an aggravation of the crime it was used to commit (for example an aggravated assault) and would not have been included in the statistics.

From 1 April 2017, crimes of handling offensive weapons in public places are no longer treated as an aggravation where they are used to commit other crimes or offences against a person. As such, both the crime of handling an offensive weapon in a public place and any crime or offence committed with it are now both included in the statistics. This change was made to improve consistency between the recording of these crimes and the criminal law.

As a result of this change, crimes of handling an offensive weapon have been substantially higher since 2017-18. This does not represent a real increase in recorded crime. This change will continue to have an impact on the comparability of recorded crime statistics for all years prior to 2017-18.

From 2017-18, crimes of handling an offensive weapon in Scotland can then be counted in two different ways:

• the first is to use the pre-existing statistics, where the offensive weapon has not been used to commit another crime or offence against a person in a public place
• the second is to look at crimes where the offensive weapon was used to commit another crime or offence against a person in a public place

On 28 June 2022, Part 1, Section 6 of the Offensive Weapons Act was implemented. This included the introduction of an offence of having a corrosive substance in a public place. There were 21 crimes of Possessing a corrosive substance in a public place in 2024-25 (nine used in other crimes or offences and 12 not used).

Part 4 of the legislation came into effect on 27 March 2023, this included the introduction of offences of having certain dangerous knives in a private place and being in possession of prohibited offensive weapons in a private place. This means the possession of certain offensive weapons is now illegal in both a public and private place. In 2024-25, there were 38 crimes of Possession of certain dangerous knives in a private place (three of which were used in other criminal activity and 35 which were not). In the same period there were 317 crimes of Possession of prohibited offensive weapons in a private place, 43 of these were used in other criminal activity and 274 were not.

Weapons possession – Not used in other crimes or offences

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Weapons possession – not used decreased by 5% from 4,759 to 4,505 crimes. There was a 45% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 3,111 to 4,505 crimes.

In 2024-25, 206 crimes of handling an offensive weapon (not used) occurred within a prison, compared to 138 in 2023-24.

In 2024-25, 152 crimes of handling an offensive weapon (not used) occurred within a school. This compares to 136 in 2023-24.

Weapons possession – Used in other crimes or offences

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Weapons possession – used increased by 11% from 6,076 to 6,744 crimes.

In 2024-25, 108 crimes of handling an offensive weapon (used) occurred within a prison, compared to 72 in 2023-24.

In 2024-25, 115 crimes of handling an offensive weapon (used) occurred within a school, compared to 95 in 2023-24.

Drugs – Supply

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Drugs – Supply increased by 14% from 4,223 to 4,802 crimes. There was a 13% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 5,550 to 4,802 crimes.

Drugs - Possession

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Drugs – Possession decreased by 3% from 21,121 to 20,389 crimes. There was a 32% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 29,929 to 20,389 crimes.

Other crimes against society

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded Other crimes against society increased by 28% from 266 to 341 crimes. There was a 28% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 267 to 341 crimes.

This category includes Offences Relating to Serious Organised Crime, Obstruct or hinder other emergency worker in pursuance of duty, Prevention of terrorism other offences, Conspiracy, and Mobbing and Rioting. Increases since 2023-24 and 2015-16 have been driven by the implementation of Offences Relating to Serious Organised Crime in 2016-17, which has increased by 98% (or 63 crimes) from 64 in 2023-24 to 127 in 2024-25.