Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending December 2024

Main findings

Figure 1. Crimes of dishonesty remain the largest crime group by volume and Road traffic offences remain the largest offence group by volume

Crimes and offences recorded by Police Scotland, by crime group, year ending December 2020 to 2024

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending December 2024, the police recorded 298,308 crimes. This was 1% (or 3,768 crimes) lower than the 302,076 crimes recorded in the previous year, but 1% higher than the 296,263 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2020.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

The number of Non-sexual crimes of violence in the year ending December 2024:

• were 2% (or 1,263 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 71,900 to 70,637 crimes), and
• were 10% (or 6,699 crimes) higher compared to the year ending December 2020 (increasing from 63,938 to 70,637 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 60 to 49 crimes), and decreased by 17% from the year ending December 2020 (from 59 to 49 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 50 to 59 crimes), and increased by 23% from the year ending December 2020 (from 48 to 59 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 3,503 to 3,358 crimes), and decreased by 8% from the year ending December 2020 (from 3,667 to 3,358 crimes).
• Common assault decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 59,561 to 58,810 crimes), but increased by 9% from the year ending December 2020 (from 54,104 to 58,810 crimes).
• Robbery decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 1,961 to 1,824 crimes), but increased by 5% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,744 to 1,824 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 23% compared to the previous year (from 1,963 to 2,409 crimes), and increased by 50% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,601 to 2,409 crimes). Please note that the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 came into effect on 1 April 2019.
• Other non-sexual violence decreased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 4,802 to 4,128 crimes), but increased by 52% from the year ending December 2020 (from 2,715 to 4,128 crimes).

Sexual crimes

The number of Sexual crimes in the year ending December 2024:

• were 2% (or 355 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 14,894 to 14,539 crimes), and
• were 11% (or 1,433 crimes) higher compared to the year ending December 2020 (increasing from 13,106 to 14,539 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 2,545 to 2,785 crimes), and increased by 25% from the year ending December 2020 (from 2,227 to 2,785 crimes).
• Sexual assault decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 5,283 to 4,950 crimes), but increased by 15% from the year ending December 2020 (from 4,310 to 4,950 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 2,220 to 2,142 crimes), but increased by 2% from the year ending December 2020 (from 2,092 to 2,142 crimes).
• Communicating indecently decreased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 1,610 to 1,450 crimes), and decreased by 7% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,553 to 1,450 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 826 to 748 crimes), and decreased by 3% from the year ending December 2020 (from 774 to 748 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 745 to 797 crimes), and increased by 18% from the year ending December 2020 (from 673 to 797 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution increased by 55% compared to the previous year (from 65 to 101 crimes), and increased by 63% from the year ending December 2020 (from 62 to 101 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 1,600 to 1,566 crimes), but increased by 11% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,415 to 1,566 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

The number of Crimes of dishonesty in the year ending December 2024:

• were <1% (or 417 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 111,682 to 111,265 crimes), and
• were 16% (or 14,979 crimes) higher compared to the year ending December 2020 (increasing from 96,286 to 111,265 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking decreased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 9,300 to 7,850 crimes), and decreased by 30% from the year ending December 2020 (from 11,166 to 7,850 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 1,349 to 1,547 crimes), and increased by 15% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,343 to 1,547 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 2,275 to 1,962 crimes), and decreased by 24% from the year ending December 2020 (from 2,594 to 1,962 crimes).
• Theft of a motor vehicle decreased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 5,438 to 4,740 crimes), but increased by 3% from the year ending December 2020 (from 4,613 to 4,740 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 36,815 to 43,556 crimes), and increased by 89% from the year ending December 2020 (from 23,046 to 43,556 crimes).
• Other theft decreased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 35,974 to 32,389 crimes), and decreased by 6% from the year ending December 2020 (from 34,290 to 32,389 crimes).
• Fraud decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 16,890 to 15,430 crimes), but increased by 8% from the year ending December 2020 (from 14,337 to 15,430 crimes). Further explanation on the changes in levels of recorded fraud are available in the Recorded Crime in Scotland annual bulletin.
• Other dishonesty increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 3,641 to 3,791 crimes), but decreased by 23% from the year ending December 2020 (from 4,897 to 3,791 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

The number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes in the year ending December 2024:

• were 7% (or 2,875 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 42,124 to 39,249 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 5,170 crimes) lower compared to the year ending December 2020 (decreasing from 44,419 to 39,249 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 2,722 to 2,468 crimes), and decreased by 4% from the year ending December 2020 (from 2,566 to 2,468 crimes).
• Vandalism decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 36,105 to 33,869 crimes), and decreased by 13% from the year ending December 2020 (from 39,099 to 33,869 crimes).
• Reckless conduct decreased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 3,297 to 2,912 crimes), but increased by 6% from the year ending December 2020 (from 2,754 to 2,912 crimes).

Crimes against society

The number of Crimes against society in the year ending December 2024:

• were 2% (or 1,142 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 61,476 to 62,618 crimes), and
• were 10% (or 6,623 crimes) lower compared to the year ending December 2020 (decreasing from 69,241 to 62,618 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 24,451 to 26,394 crimes), and increased by 11% from the year ending December 2020 (from 23,801 to 26,394 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 4,671 to 4,576 crimes), and decreased by 3% from the year ending December 2020 (from 4,705 to 4,576 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 6,144 to 6,501 crimes), and increased by 13% from the year ending December 2020 (from 5,767 to 6,501 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 4,208 to 4,626 crimes), but decreased by 6% from the year ending December 2020 (from 4,896 to 4,626 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 21,733 to 20,200 crimes), and decreased by 32% from the year ending December 2020 (from 29,891 to 20,200 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 19% compared to the previous year (from 269 to 321 crimes), and increased by 77% from the year ending December 2020 (from 181 to 321 crimes).

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending December 2024, the police recorded 177,172 offences. This was 1% (or 2,444 offences) lower than the 179,616 offences recorded in the previous year, and 6% lower than the 187,752 offences recorded in the year ending December 2020.

Antisocial offences

The number of Antisocial offences in the year ending December 2024:

• were 1% (or 381 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 47,941 to 48,322 offences), and
• were 18% (or 10,351 offences) lower compared to the year ending December 2020 (decreasing from 58,673 to 48,322 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 43,168 to 43,200 offences), but decreased by 13% from the year ending December 2020 (from 49,646 to 43,200 offences).
• Hate aggravated conduct increased by 21% compared to the previous year (from 1,537 to 1,861 offences), and increased by 1% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,847 to 1,861 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 2,471 to 2,389 offences), and decreased by 60% from the year ending December 2020 (from 5,995 to 2,389 offences).
• Urinating etc. increased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 765 to 872 offences), but decreased by 26% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,185 to 872 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

The number of Miscellaneous offences in the year ending December 2024:

• were 1% (or 190 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 13,631 to 13,821 offences), and
• were 6% (or 730 offences) higher compared to the year ending December 2020 (increasing from 13,091 to 13,821 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 9,492 to 9,927 offences), and increased by 11% from the year ending December 2020 (from 8,983 to 9,927 offences).
• Environmental offences decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 492 to 475 offences), and decreased by 44% from the year ending December 2020 (from 852 to 475 offences).
• Licensing offences increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 822 to 882 offences), but decreased by 10% from the year ending December 2020 (from 977 to 882 offences).
• Wildlife offences decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 1,524 to 1,499 offences), but increased by 5% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,429 to 1,499 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences decreased by 20% compared to the previous year (from 1,301 to 1,038 offences), but increased by 22% from the year ending December 2020 (from 850 to 1,038 offences).

Road traffic offences

The number of Road traffic offences in the year ending December 2024:

• were 3% (or 3,015 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 118,044 to 115,029 offences), and
• were 1% (or 959 offences) lower compared to the year ending December 2020 (decreasing from 115,988 to 115,029 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 13,109 to 13,354 offences), and increased by 13% from the year ending December 2020 (from 11,869 to 13,354 offences).
• Driving under the influence increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 7,975 to 8,807 offences), and increased by 7% from the year ending December 2020 (from 8,235 to 8,807 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 40% compared to the previous year (from 22,007 to 13,136 offences), and decreased by 44% from the year ending December 2020 (from 23,329 to 13,136 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 37,188 to 38,349 offences), but decreased by 8% from the year ending December 2020 (from 41,617 to 38,349 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences increased by 30% compared to the previous year (from 6,509 to 8,463 offences), and increased by 25% from the year ending December 2020 (from 6,768 to 8,463 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 2,230 to 2,271 offences), and increased by 36% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,675 to 2,271 offences).
• Mobile phone offences increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 3,274 to 3,878 offences), and increased by 140% from the year ending December 2020 (from 1,619 to 3,878 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 25,752 to 26,771 offences), and increased by 28% from the year ending December 2020 (from 20,876 to 26,771 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending December 2020 and the year ending December 2024, of the 32 Local Authorities, 14 saw an increase in recorded crime and 18 saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending December 2023 and the year ending December 2024, of the 32 Local Authorities, eight Local Authorities saw an increase in recorded crime, two saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 22 saw a decrease in recorded crime.