Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Crimes of dishonesty

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, the number of Crimes of dishonesty recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by <1%, from 111,054 to 110,913 crimes. In the last 10 years, the number of Crimes of dishonesty has decreased by 4% from 115,789 in 2015-16 to 110,913 in 2024-25.

Figure 12. Crimes of dishonesty have decreased significantly since a peak in 1991 and are at the fourth lowest level since 1971.

Crimes of dishonesty recorded by the police (000’s), Scotland, 1971 to 1994, 1995-96 to 2024-25.

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

Figure 12 above shows the number of Crimes of dishonesty from 1971 onwards. Crimes of dishonesty are now at the fourth lowest level since 1971. Crimes of dishonesty increased for a long period from 1971 and peaked in 1991. Since then, there has been a long-term decreasing trend, with a decrease of 74% between 1991 and 2024-25.

The national rate of Crimes of dishonesty was 202 crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25. This has remained unchanged since 2023-24, and decreased from 216 crimes per 10,000 population in 2015-16.

Figure 13. What makes up Crimes of dishonesty?

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

Figure 13 above shows the proportion of Crimes of dishonesty that each crime category represents in Scotland in 2024-25.

Figure 14 below presents the crime categories within Crimes of dishonesty over the latest 10 years and gives an indication of the trend and scale of each category.

Figure 14. This group has changed significantly, with rises in Shoplifting and Fraud and falls in Housebreaking and Other theft in the last 10 years.

Crimes of dishonesty recorded by the police showing the five largest categories, Scotland, 2015-16 to 2024-25.

Housebreaking

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Housebreaking decreased by 18% from 9,033 to 7,381 crimes. There was a 58% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 17,637 to 7,381 crimes.

Housebreaking has been in long-term decline since a peak of 116,130 recorded crimes in 1991 and is now at the lowest level since 1971.

Theft by opening lockfast places

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Theft by opening lockfast places increased by 4% from 1,377 to 1,431 crimes. There was a 35% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 2,193 to 1,431 crimes.

Theft from a motor vehicle

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 18% from 2,251 to 1,857 crimes. There was a 60% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 4,684 to 1,857 crimes.

Theft of a motor vehicle

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Theft of a motor vehicle decreased by 7% from 5,090 to 4,753 crimes. There was a 5% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 5,028 to 4,753 crimes.

The specific type of motor vehicle stolen cannot be determined from the standard data supplied by Police Scotland for these recorded crime statistics. However given  user interest, specifically around the theft of motorcycles, Police Scotland have provided management information which shows that based on the stolen property recorded, 816 motorcycles were recorded as stolen in 2024-25, and of those 344 (42%) were then recovered.  It should be noted that not all thefts of a motorcycle will be recorded as Theft of a motor vehicle, they may also be recorded as Housebreaking, Theft by opening lockfast places or Other Theft, depending on the circumstances. The figures above relate to motorcycles stolen under any of these categories.

Shoplifting

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Shoplifting increased by 16% from 38,674 to 44,730 crimes. There was a 57% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 28,424 to 44,730 crimes.

Levels of Shoplifting decreased significantly in 2020-21; this decrease was likely due to the Covid-19 pandemic related restrictions. Since then, it has increased for four consecutive years and is at the highest level since 1971.

Other theft

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Other theft decreased by 7% from 34,311 to 31,905 crimes. There was a 31% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 46,419 to 31,905 crimes.

Other theft consists of Theft of pedal cycles, Theft from a motor vehicle not elsewhere classified and Theft not elsewhere classified (excluding motor vehicles).

Fraud

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Fraud decreased by 8% from 16,624 to 15,253 crimes. There was a 106% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 7,400 to 15,253 crimes.

Since 2015-16 Fraud increased year on year until 2022-23. It then decreased for two consecutive years.

Much of the increase in Fraud since 2015-16 has related to cyber-crimes, which are estimated to account for around half of all Frauds (49%) in 2024-25. The estimated proportion of Fraud identified as cyber-enabled increased significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic and has remained higher than pre-pandemic levels. Information on this change is available in the Cyber-crime chapter.

Other dishonesty

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Other dishonesty decreased by 2% from 3,694 to 3,603 crimes. There was a 10% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 4,004 to 3,603 crimes.