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Publication - Statistics

Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Published
24 June 2025
From
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, +2 more … Chief Statistician, Director of Safer Communities
Directorate
Justice Directorate, +1 more … Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Law and order

Statistics on crimes and offences recorded and cleared up by the police in Scotland in 2024-25, split by crime or offence group and by local authority.

Part of

Supporting documents

Damage and reckless behaviour

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, the number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 6% from 41,129 to 38,738. In the last 10 years, the number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes has decreased by 29% from 54,226 in 2015-16 to 38,738 in 2024-25.

Figure 15. Crimes of Damage and reckless behaviour have decreased significantly since 2006-07.

Damage and reckless behaviour crimes recorded by the police (000’s), Scotland, 1971 to 1994, 1995-96 to 2024-25.

Line chart showing that recorded crimes of Damage and reckless behaviour in Scotland have been on a downward trend since 2006-07, with some fluctuations. Crimes of dishonesty have decreased by 70% from the peak in 2006-07.

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

Figure 15 above shows the number of crimes of Damage and reckless behaviour from 1971 onwards. Levels of Damage and reckless behaviour are now at the lowest since 1976. These crimes increased for a long period, but a sharp downward trend started after they peaked in 2006-07 at 129,734 crimes, with figures decreasing by 70% since then.

The national rate of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes was 71 crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25. This has decreased from 75 crimes per 10,000 population in 2023-24, and from 101 crimes per 10,000 population in 2015-16.

Figure 16. What makes up Damage and reckless behaviour?

Proportions of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes by crime category, Scotland, 2024-25.

Bar chart showing the proportions of Damage and reckless behaviour by crime category in Scotland in 2024-25. Damage and reckless behaviour was 86% Vandalism, 8% Reckless conduct and 7% Fire-raising.

Figure 16 above shows the proportion of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes that each crime category represents in Scotland in 2024-25.

The clear majority (86% in 2024-25) of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes are crimes of Vandalism. Due to the size of this crime category within the group, any changes to the trend in Vandalism will tend to significantly impact the trend for the group as a whole. As such, in 2024-25, the 6% decrease in crimes of Damage an reckless behaviour is due to a decrease in Vandalism (down 6%).

Figure 17 below presents the crime categories within Damage and reckless behaviour over the latest 10 years and gives an indication of the trend and scale of each category.

Figure 17. Vandalism has accounted for the majority of recorded crimes of Damage and reckless behaviour over the last 10 years.

Damage and reckless behaviour recorded by the police, by category, Scotland, 2015-16 to 2024-25.

Line chart showing that Vandalism has made up the vast majority of Damage and reckless behaviour over the last ten years, but has been on a downward trend since 2015-16. Fire-raising has remained unchanged since 2015-16. Reckless conduct has increased by 11% since 2015-16 but decreased by 8% since 2023-24.

Fire-raising

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Fire-raising decreased by <1% from 2,601 to 2,590 crimes. There was a <1% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 2,595 to 2,590 crimes.

Vandalism

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Vandalism decreased by 6% from 35,303 to 33,191 crimes. There was a 32% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 48,955 to 33,191 crimes.

Since reaching a peak of 121,686 crimes in 2006-07, recorded crimes of Vandalism have been on a long-term downward trend and are now 73% lower than the peak.

Reckless conduct

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Reckless conduct decreased by 8% from 3,225 to 2,957 crimes. There was an 11% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 2,676 to 2,957 crimes.

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

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