Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26

Damage and reckless behaviour

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, the number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 1% from 38,738 to 38,166. In the last 10 years, the number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes has decreased by 27% from 52,514 in 2016-17 to 38,166 in 2025-26.

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

Damage and reckless behaviour crimes recorded by the police (000’s), Scotland, 1971 to 1994, 1995-96 to 2025-26.

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 71% since then.

The national rate of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes was 69 crimes per 10,000 population in 2025-26. This has decreased from 70 crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25, and from 98 crimes per 10,000 population in 2016-17.

Figure 16. What makes up Damage and reckless behaviour?

Proportions of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes by crime category, Scotland, 2025-26.

Figure 16 above shows the proportion of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes that each crime category represents in Scotland in 2025-26.

The clear majority (85% in 2025-26) 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 impact the trend for the group as a whole. As such, the 1% decrease in crimes of Damage and reckless behaviour between 2024-25 and 2025-26 is due to a decrease in Vandalism (down 2%).

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 (000s), by category, Scotland, 2016-17 to 2025-26.

Fire-raising

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Fire-raising increased by 1% from 2,590 to 2,605 crimes. There was a 7% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 2,793 to 2,605 crimes.

Vandalism

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Vandalism decreased by 2% from 33,191 to 32,555 crimes. There was a 31% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 47,268 to 32,555 crimes.

After 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 since then.

Reckless conduct

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Reckless conduct increased by 2% from 2,957 to 3,006 crimes. There was a 23% increase over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 2,453 to 3,006 crimes.