Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Total Recorded Crime

Figure 1. Recorded Crime in Scotland has decreased significantly since it peaked in 1991.

Total crimes 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.

The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in 2024-25 was 299,111. This is 679 crimes (or <1%) lower than the level recorded in 2023-24. Over the past 10 years, total recorded crime in Scotland has decreased by 2%. This represents a more stable period than the previous 10 years (2005-06 to 2014-15), when total recorded crime fell by 36%.

Figure 1 shows the total number of recorded crimes since 1971. The recording of crime remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic (2019-20) and down 51% from its peak in 1991.  

Legislative changes and changes to crime recording practices will have had some effect on the longer term time series for recorded crime. Annex 1 provides information on these changes.

The national rate of total recorded crime was 545 crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25. This has decreased from 546 crimes per 10,000 population in 2023-24, and 572 crimes per 10,000 population in 2015-16.

Figure 2. What makes up Recorded crime?

Proportions of total recorded crime by crime group, Scotland, 2024-25.

Figure 2 shows the proportion of total recorded crime that each crime group represents in Scotland in 2024-25. Of all recorded crimes:

• Crimes of dishonesty was the largest group, accounting for 37%.
• Non-sexual crimes of violence accounted for 24%.
• Crimes against society accounted for 21%.
• Damage and reckless behaviour accounted for 13%.
• Sexual crime accounted for 5%.

Figure 3. Crimes of dishonesty has consistently been the largest crime group in each year since 1971.

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

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

Figure 3 shows the number of recorded crimes for each crime group since 1971. Despite significant decreases in Crimes of dishonesty, it remains the largest crime group.

These crime groups are discussed in more detail in the following chapters.

Total Recorded Crime by Local Authority

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crime decreased in 21 local authorities, increased in seven, and four changed very little (<1%). Since 2023-24, East Renfrewshire saw the largest percentage increase (up 9%) while Shetland Islands saw the largest decrease (down 17%). Between 2015-16 and 2024-25, recorded crime decreased in 19 local authorities and increased in 13. Since 2015-16, Scottish Borders saw the largest percentage increase (up 22%) while Shetlands Islands saw the largest decrease (down 49%). Table 1 in the 'Supporting documents' Excel workbook provides the number of crimes recorded in each local authority over the past 10 years.

Figure 4 below shows the number of recorded crimes per 10,000 population in each local authority and Scotland as a whole in 2024-25. In Scotland as a whole, there were 545 recorded crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25. Glasgow City recorded the highest rate (829 per 10,000 population) and Shetland Islands recorded the lowest rate (180 per 10,000 population). Table 4 in the 'Supporting documents' Excel workbook provides further details on the number of crimes recorded per 10,000 population in each local authority over the past 10 years.

Figure 4. Glasgow City, Dundee City and City of Edinburgh have the highest numbers of crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25.

Total number of recorded crimes per 10,000 population, Scotland, 2024-25.

Population data source: Mid-2023 population estimates from National Records of Scotland (NRS).

Due to 2024 mid-year population estimates from the National Records of Scotland being published after the release of the Recorded Crime in Scotland 2024-25 bulletin, the 2023 mid-year population estimates have been used to calculate the 2024-25 population rates. Population estimates have also been revised from mid-2011 to mid-2021 following Scotland’s Census 2022, therefore crime rates per 10,000 population may differ from those published in previous years. The revised time series is available from Population estimates time series data - National Records of Scotland (NRS).