Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending December 2025

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 2021 to 2025.

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending December 2025, the police recorded 308,532 crimes. This was 3% (or 10,226 crimes) higher than the 298,306 crimes recorded in the previous year, and 6% higher than the 292,316 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2021.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

The number of Non-sexual crimes of violence in the year ending December 2025:

• were 5% (or 3,749 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 70,635 to 74,384 crimes), and
• were 13% (or 8,454 crimes) higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 65,930 to 74,384 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 49 to 47 crimes), and decreased by 22% from the year ending December 2021 (from 60 to 47 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving decreased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 59 to 52 crimes), but increased by 41% from the year ending December 2021 (from 37 to 52 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 3,120 to 3,052 crimes), and decreased by 15% from the year ending December 2021 (from 3,606 to 3,052 crimes).
• Common assault increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 58,810 to 61,787 crimes), and increased by 12% from the year ending December 2021 (from 55,220 to 61,787 crimes).
• Robbery decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,824 to 1,819 crimes), but increased by 9% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,671 to 1,819 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 25% compared to the previous year (from 2,409 to 3,009 crimes), and increased by 75% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,723 to 3,009 crimes).
• Other non-sexual violence increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 4,364 to 4,618 crimes), and increased by 28% from the year ending December 2021 (from 3,613 to 4,618 crimes).

Sexual crimes

The number of Sexual crimes in the year ending December 2025:

• were 10% (or 1,490 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 14,539 to 16,029 crimes), and
• were 10% (or 1,431 crimes) higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 14,598 to 16,029 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 2,785 to 3,118 crimes), and increased by 26% from the year ending December 2021 (from 2,481 to 3,118 crimes).
• Sexual assault increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 4,950 to 5,201 crimes), and increased by 3% from the year ending December 2021 (from 5,053 to 5,201 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 2,142 to 2,467 crimes), and increased by 11% from the year ending December 2021 (from 2,222 to 2,467 crimes).
• Communicating indecently increased by 21% compared to the previous year (from 1,450 to 1,755 crimes), and increased by 9% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,615 to 1,755 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images increased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 748 to 866 crimes), and increased by 1% from the year ending December 2021 (from 858 to 866 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by 20% compared to the previous year (from 797 to 959 crimes), and increased by 48% from the year ending December 2021 (from 646 to 959 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 101 to 92 crimes), but increased by 15% from the year ending December 2021 (from 80 to 92 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,566 to 1,571 crimes), but decreased by 4% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,643 to 1,571 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

The number of Crimes of dishonesty in the year ending December 2025:

• were 2% (or 2,464 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 111,265 to 113,729 crimes), and
• were 27% (or 23,841 crimes) higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 89,888 to 113,729 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking decreased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 7,850 to 6,758 crimes), and decreased by 19% from the year ending December 2021 (from 8,371 to 6,758 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places decreased by 24% compared to the previous year (from 1,547 to 1,182 crimes), but increased by <1% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,180 to 1,182 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 24% compared to the previous year (from 1,962 to 1,487 crimes), and decreased by 21% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,880 to 1,487 crimes).
• Theft of a motor vehicle decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 4,740 to 4,734 crimes), but increased by 12% from the year ending December 2021 (from 4,240 to 4,734 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 43,556 to 50,300 crimes), and increased by 137% from the year ending December 2021 (from 21,234 to 50,300 crimes).
• Other theft decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 32,389 to 30,172 crimes), and decreased by 7% from the year ending December 2021 (from 32,288 to 30,172 crimes).
• Fraud decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 15,430 to 15,091 crimes), and decreased by 9% from the year ending December 2021 (from 16,611 to 15,091 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 6% compared to the previous year (from 3,791 to 4,005 crimes), but decreased by 2% from the year ending December 2021 (from 4,084 to 4,005 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

The number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes in the year ending December 2025:

• were 3% (or 1,287 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 39,249 to 37,962 crimes), and
• were 13% (or 5,466 crimes) lower compared to the year ending December 2021 (decreasing from 43,428 to 37,962 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising increased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 2,468 to 2,753 crimes), and increased by 6% from the year ending December 2021 (from 2,594 to 2,753 crimes).
• Vandalism decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 33,869 to 32,189 crimes), and decreased by 14% from the year ending December 2021 (from 37,435 to 32,189 crimes).
• Reckless conduct increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 2,912 to 3,020 crimes), but decreased by 11% from the year ending December 2021 (from 3,399 to 3,020 crimes).

Crimes against society

The number of Crimes against society in the year ending December 2025:

• were 6% (or 3,810 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 62,618 to 66,428 crimes), and
• were 6% (or 3,604 crimes) higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 62,824 to 66,428 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 26,394 to 28,706 crimes), and increased by 24% from the year ending December 2021 (from 23,170 to 28,706 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 4,576 to 4,534 crimes), but increased by 10% from the year ending December 2021 (from 4,138 to 4,534 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) increased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 6,501 to 7,339 crimes), and increased by 30% from the year ending December 2021 (from 5,650 to 7,339 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 4,626 to 5,075 crimes), and increased by 18% from the year ending December 2021 (from 4,304 to 5,075 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 20,200 to 20,304 crimes), but decreased by 20% from the year ending December 2021 (from 25,401 to 20,304 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 46% compared to the previous year (from 321 to 470 crimes), and increased by 192% from the year ending December 2021 (from 161 to 470 crimes).

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending December 2025, the police recorded 191,153 offences. This was 8% (or 13,981 offences) higher than the 177,172 offences recorded in the previous year, and 5% higher than the 182,071 offences recorded in the year ending December 2021.

Antisocial offences

The number of Antisocial offences in the year ending December 2025:

• were 7% (or 3,527 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 48,322 to 51,849 offences), and
• were 6% (or 3,220 offences) lower compared to the year ending December 2021 (decreasing from 55,069 to 51,849 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 43,200 to 45,912 offences), but decreased by 3% from the year ending December 2021 (from 47,179 to 45,912 offences).
• Hate aggravated conduct decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 1,861 to 1,803 offences), but increased by 6% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,693 to 1,803 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct increased by 28% compared to the previous year (from 2,389 to 3,048 offences), but decreased by 39% from the year ending December 2021 (from 4,976 to 3,048 offences).
• Urinating etc. increased by 25% compared to the previous year (from 872 to 1,086 offences), but decreased by 11% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,221 to 1,086 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

The number of Miscellaneous offences in the year ending December 2025:

• were 2% (or 265 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 13,821 to 14,086 offences), and
• were 10% (or 1,231 offences) higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 12,855 to 14,086 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 9,927 to 10,478 offences), and increased by 14% from the year ending December 2021 (from 9,179 to 10,478 offences).
• Environmental offences increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 475 to 510 offences), and increased by 1% from the year ending December 2021 (from 507 to 510 offences).
• Licensing offences decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 882 to 805 offences), and decreased by 3% from the year ending December 2021 (from 829 to 805 offences).
• Wildlife offences increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,499 to 1,619 offences), and increased by 12% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,445 to 1,619 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences decreased by 35% compared to the previous year (from 1,038 to 674 offences), and decreased by 25% from the year ending December 2021 (from 895 to 674 offences).

Road traffic offences

The number of Road traffic offences in the year ending December 2025:

• were 9% (or 10,189 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 115,029 to 125,218 offences), and
• were 10% (or 11,071 offences) higher compared to the year ending December 2021 (increasing from 114,147 to 125,218 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 13,354 to 15,143 offences), and increased by 20% from the year ending December 2021 (from 12,569 to 15,143 offences).
• Driving under the influence increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 8,807 to 9,411 offences), and increased by 22% from the year ending December 2021 (from 7,706 to 9,411 offences).
• Speeding increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 13,136 to 14,256 offences), but decreased by 38% from the year ending December 2021 (from 23,067 to 14,256 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 38,349 to 41,339 offences), and increased by 4% from the year ending December 2021 (from 39,761 to 41,339 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences increased by 33% compared to the previous year (from 8,463 to 11,239 offences), and increased by 76% from the year ending December 2021 (from 6,384 to 11,239 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 2,271 to 2,344 offences), and increased by 40% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,674 to 2,344 offences).
• Mobile phone offences decreased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 3,878 to 3,465 offences), but increased by 140% from the year ending December 2021 (from 1,446 to 3,465 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 26,771 to 28,021 offences), and increased by 30% from the year ending December 2021 (from 21,540 to 28,021 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending December 2024 and the year ending December 2025, of the 32 Local Authorities, 27 Local Authorities saw an increase in recorded crime, one saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and four saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending December 2021 and the year ending December 2025, of the 32 Local Authorities, 19 saw an increase in recorded crime and 13 saw a decrease in recorded crime.