Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Non-sexual crimes of violence

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, the number of Non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by <1% from 71,473 to 71,170. In the last 10 years, the number of Non-sexual crimes of violence has increased by 7% from 66,768 in 2015-16 to 71,170 in 2024-25.

Figure 5. Non-sexual crimes of violence are at a significantly higher level than in 1971 but remain 23% below the peak in 2006-07.

Non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police, Scotland, 1971 to 1994, 1995‑96 to 2024-25.

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

Figure 5 above shows the number of Non-sexual crimes of violence from 1971 onwards. Levels of violent crime increased for a long period, before entering a downward trend following a peak in 2006-07. Since 2014-15 levels have been rising (excluding a Covid related dip in 2020-21) however Non-sexual crimes of violence remain 23% lower than the peak in 2006-07.

The national rate of Non-sexual crimes of violence was 130 crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25. This has remained unchanged from 130 crimes per 10,000 population in 2023-24, and increased from 125 crimes per 10,000 population in 2015-16.

Figure 6. What makes up Non-sexual crimes of violence?

Proportions of Non-sexual crimes of violence by crime category, Scotland, 2024-25.

Figure 6 shows the proportion of Non-sexual crimes of violence that each crime category represents in Scotland in 2024-25. 

The clear majority (83% in 2024-25) of Non-sexual crimes of violence are crimes of Common assault. Due to the size of this crime category within the group, any changes to the trend in Common assault will tend to significantly impact the trend for the group as a whole. However, in 2024-25, the <1% decrease in Non-sexual crimes of violence is due to decreases in Other non-sexual violence (down 7%), Serious assault and attempted murder (down 8%) and Robbery (down 7%). These decreases were however offset by a 26% increase in Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes.

Figure 7 below presents all crime categories of Non-sexual crimes of violence other than Common assault over the last 10 years and gives an indication of the trend and scale of each category.

Figure 7. Serious assault and attempted murder has been on a downward trend since 2018-19 and Other non-sexual violence has decreased for the first time since 2019-20.

Non-sexual crimes of violence (excluding Common assault) recorded by the police, by category, Scotland, 2015-16 to 2024-25.

Murder and culpable homicide

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 24% from 58 to 44 crimes. There was a 27% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 60 to 44 crimes.

The Scottish Government produce a separate Homicide in Scotland statistics bulletin. It contains detailed information on the crimes of Murder and Culpable homicide (common law). It presents characteristics of victims and accused, such as age and gender and the circumstances of the homicide. Users interested in Homicide statistics should use the Homicide in Scotland statistics bulletin.

The latest Homicide in Scotland bulletin reports on the year of 2023-24. The data showed an increase in the number of homicide victims compared to 2022-23, from 52 to 57. This was the third lowest number since comparable records began in 1976.

Death by dangerous driving

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Death by dangerous driving increased by 57% from 42 to 66 crimes. There was a 214% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 21 to 66 crimes.

Serious assault and attempted murder

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Serious assault and attempted murder decreased by 8% from 3,285 to 3,024 crimes. There was a 25% decrease over the 10 year period from 2015-16 to 2024-25, from 4,007 to 3,024 crimes.

Crimes of Serious assault and attempted murder are now at the lowest level since 1977 when 2,966 crimes were recorded.

In 2024-25, crimes of Serious assault of police officer/staff and Serious assault of emergency worker (non-police) are identifiable crimes for the first time, having previously been included under the broader crime of Serious assault. There were 20 recorded crimes of Serious assault of police officer/ staff and 12 crimes of Serious assault of emergency worker (non-police). More information on these new crimecodes are provided in Annex 1.

Serious assault of retail worker, which came in to effect on 24 August 2021 under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021, fell from 13 crimes in 2023-24 to 11 in 2024-25. More information on this legislation is provided in Annex 1.

For the definition of Serious assault and the distinction between Serious assault and Common assault please see the User Guide. Information on comparisons with other data sources regarding serious assaults is available in the Data and methodology section.

Common assault

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Common assault decreased by <1% from 59,314 to 59,230 crimes. There was a 1% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 58,596 to 59,230 crimes.

2024-25 is the first year where all crimes of Common assault have been divided in to two categories; with and without injury. In 2024/25, of the 59,230 common assaults recorded, two thirds (66%) were recorded as common assault without injury.

These categories have been further disaggregated by including Common assault, Common assault of retail worker, Common assault of police officer/staff, and Common assault of emergency worker (non-Police). Further information is available from Table A1 in the 'Supporting documents'. Figure 8 below shows the proportions of Common assault by type in 2024-25.

For the definition of Common assault with/without injury please see the User Guide.

Figure 8. What makes up Common assault?

Proportions of Common assault by type, Scotland, 2024-25.

More information on procedural changes to the recording of Common assault is provided in Annex 1.

Robbery

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Robbery decreased by 7% from 1,922 to 1,782 crimes. There was a 34% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 1,327 to 1,782 crimes.

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018

There were 2,573 crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 in 2024-25, the sixth year this legislation has been in place. This was a 26% increase compared to 2023-24 (from 2,042 to 2,573).

Of those crimes, 94% (or 2,410) involved a female victim and 6% (or 163) had a male victim.

It should be noted that crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 relate to a course of conduct only and therefore do not include all crimes relating to domestic abuse.

Statistics presented in this bulletin are the primary source for users interested in the number of crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018. However, separate analysis of domestic abuse incidents reported to the police is presented in the Domestic abuse: statistics recorded by the police in Scotland Official Statistics bulletin. This is produced by the Scottish Government and contains details of domestic abuse incidents and crimes recorded by Police Scotland, including characteristics of victims and perpetrators, such as their age and gender. The next Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland bulletin will contain data for 2024-25 and will be published later in 2025-26.

Other non-sexual violence

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Other non-sexual violence decreased by 7% from 4,810 to 4,451 crimes. There was a 61% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 2,757 to 4,451 crimes.

The Other non-sexual violence category includes a wide range of crime types, albeit just five accounted for 91% of the 4,451 crimes recorded in 2024-25. This included Threats & extortion (39% of all Other non-sexual violent crimes), Stalking (22%), Cruelty to & unnatural treatment of children (17%), Abduction (7%) and Illegal, careless or dangerous driver causing serious injury (5%). More detail on the crimes included in this crime category is provided in Table A3 in the 'Supporting documents'.

The decrease from 2023-24 is primarily due a fall in crimes of Threats and extortion, which are down 28% from 2,417 in 2023-24 to 1,750 in 2024-25, however they remain more than five times higher than 10 years ago (from 299 in 2015-16). In 2024-25, 94% of crimes of Threats and extortion were estimated to be cyber-crimes (further information on this is available in the Cyber-crime chapter).

Please note, the crime of Illegal, careless or dangerous driver causing serious injury is now included within Other non-sexual violence, having previously been included in the Serious assault and attempted murder category. It was agreed by the Scottish Crime Recording Board that an amendment to the mapping of charges under Section 2C of the Road Traffic Act 1988 should be made, moving them from Causing injury etc. by Culpable & Reckless Conduct to Illegal, careless or dangerous driver causing serious injury. It was also agreed that the latter crime should move to Other non-sexual violence, better reflecting the intent (or lack of) associated with this type of crime. This transfer has been back dated and so has no impact on time series analysis.