Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending June 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 June 2021 to 2025

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2025, the police recorded 303,343 crimes. This was 1% (or 3,265 crimes) higher than the 300,078 crimes recorded in the previous year, and 1% higher than the 300,747 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2021.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

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

• were 1% (or 566 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 71,349 to 71,915 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 7,835 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2021 (increasing from 64,080 to 71,915 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 39% compared to the previous year (from 57 to 35 crimes), and decreased by 39% from the year ending June 2021 (from 57 to 35 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving increased by 35% compared to the previous year (from 46 to 62 crimes), and increased by 38% from the year ending June 2021 (from 45 to 62 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder decreased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 3,251 to 2,924 crimes), and decreased by 19% from the year ending June 2021 (from 3,628 to 2,924 crimes).
• Common assault increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 59,198 to 59,892 crimes), and increased by 11% from the year ending June 2021 (from 53,895 to 59,892 crimes).
• Robbery decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 1,938 to 1,803 crimes), but increased by 9% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,655 to 1,803 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 26% compared to the previous year (from 2,169 to 2,742 crimes), and increased by 63% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,682 to 2,742 crimes).
• Other non-sexual violence decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 4,690 to 4,457 crimes), but increased by 43% from the year ending June 2021 (from 3,118 to 4,457 crimes).

Sexual crimes

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

• were 5% (or 712 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 14,417 to 15,129 crimes), and
• were 9% (or 1,190 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2021 (increasing from 13,939 to 15,129 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 2,609 to 3,004 crimes), and increased by 21% from the year ending June 2021 (from 2,477 to 3,004 crimes).
• Sexual assault increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 4,959 to 5,108 crimes), and increased by 11% from the year ending June 2021 (from 4,587 to 5,108 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images remained unchanged compared to the previous year (at 2,184 crimes), but increased by 1% from the year ending June 2021 (from 2,166 to 2,184 crimes).
• Communicating indecently decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 1,543 to 1,514 crimes), and decreased by 1% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,525 to 1,514 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 771 to 785 crimes), but decreased by 2% from the year ending June 2021 (from 801 to 785 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by 27% compared to the previous year (from 707 to 898 crimes), and increased by 32% from the year ending June 2021 (from 682 to 898 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution increased by 70% compared to the previous year (from 71 to 121 crimes), and increased by 86% from the year ending June 2021 (from 65 to 121 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 1,573 to 1,515 crimes), and decreased by 7% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,636 to 1,515 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

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

• were <1% (or 37 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 112,384 to 112,421 crimes), and
• were 26% (or 23,162 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2021 (increasing from 89,259 to 112,421 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking decreased by 19% compared to the previous year (from 8,838 to 7,161 crimes), and decreased by 20% from the year ending June 2021 (from 8,925 to 7,161 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,464 to 1,346 crimes), but increased by 8% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,243 to 1,346 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 24% compared to the previous year (from 2,234 to 1,708 crimes), and decreased by 11% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,920 to 1,708 crimes).
• Theft of a motor vehicle decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 5,085 to 4,699 crimes), but increased by 11% from the year ending June 2021 (from 4,233 to 4,699 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 17% compared to the previous year (from 40,554 to 47,381 crimes), and increased by 124% from the year ending June 2021 (from 21,136 to 47,381 crimes).
• Other theft decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 34,096 to 31,306 crimes), and decreased by 1% from the year ending June 2021 (from 31,496 to 31,306 crimes).
• Fraud decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 16,405 to 15,121 crimes), and decreased by 5% from the year ending June 2021 (from 15,835 to 15,121 crimes). Further explanation on the changes in levels of recorded fraud are available in the Recorded Crime in Scotland annual bulletin.
• Other dishonesty decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 3,708 to 3,699 crimes), and decreased by 17% from the year ending June 2021 (from 4,471 to 3,699 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

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

• were 3% (or 1,360 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 40,285 to 38,925 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 5,368 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2021 (decreasing from 44,293 to 38,925 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising increased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 2,491 to 2,804 crimes), and increased by 5% from the year ending June 2021 (from 2,683 to 2,804 crimes).
• Vandalism decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 34,751 to 33,044 crimes), and decreased by 14% from the year ending June 2021 (from 38,338 to 33,044 crimes).
• Reckless conduct increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 3,043 to 3,077 crimes), but decreased by 6% from the year ending June 2021 (from 3,272 to 3,077 crimes).

Crimes against society

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

• were 5% (or 3,310 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 61,643 to 64,953 crimes), and
• were 6% (or 4,077 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2021 (decreasing from 69,030 to 64,953 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 25,814 to 27,317 crimes), and increased by 12% from the year ending June 2021 (from 24,455 to 27,317 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 4,724 to 4,488 crimes), but increased by 1% from the year ending June 2021 (from 4,422 to 4,488 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) increased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 6,130 to 6,948 crimes), and increased by 20% from the year ending June 2021 (from 5,806 to 6,948 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 4,213 to 4,980 crimes), but decreased by 1% from the year ending June 2021 (from 5,054 to 4,980 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 20,499 to 20,857 crimes), but decreased by 28% from the year ending June 2021 (from 29,135 to 20,857 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 38% compared to the previous year (from 263 to 363 crimes), and increased by 130% from the year ending June 2021 (from 158 to 363 crimes).

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2025, the police recorded 184,331 offences. This was 4% (or 6,482 offences) higher than the 177,849 offences recorded in the previous year, but 3% lower than the 189,677 offences recorded in the year ending June 2021.

Antisocial offences

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

• were 5% (or 2,245 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 48,565 to 50,810 offences), and
• were 10% (or 5,358 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2021 (decreasing from 56,168 to 50,810 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 43,575 to 44,922 offences), but decreased by 7% from the year ending June 2021 (from 48,108 to 44,922 offences).
• Hate aggravated conduct increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 1,702 to 1,822 offences), and increased by 4% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,760 to 1,822 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct increased by 24% compared to the previous year (from 2,388 to 2,971 offences), but decreased by 45% from the year ending June 2021 (from 5,380 to 2,971 offences).
• Urinating etc. increased by 22% compared to the previous year (from 900 to 1,095 offences), and increased by 19% from the year ending June 2021 (from 920 to 1,095 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

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

• were <1% (or 43 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 14,011 to 13,968 offences), and
• were 4% (or 517 offences) higher compared to the year ending June 2021 (increasing from 13,451 to 13,968 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 9,922 to 10,151 offences), and increased by 8% from the year ending June 2021 (from 9,418 to 10,151 offences).
• Environmental offences increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 468 to 521 offences), but decreased by 23% from the year ending June 2021 (from 677 to 521 offences).
• Licensing offences increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 841 to 850 offences), but decreased by 8% from the year ending June 2021 (from 928 to 850 offences).
• Wildlife offences increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 1,522 to 1,612 offences), and increased by 11% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,457 to 1,612 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences decreased by 34% compared to the previous year (from 1,258 to 834 offences), and decreased by 14% from the year ending June 2021 (from 971 to 834 offences).

Road traffic offences

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

• were 4% (or 4,280 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 115,273 to 119,553 offences), and
• were <1% (or 505 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2021 (decreasing from 120,058 to 119,553 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 13,029 to 14,109 offences), and increased by 14% from the year ending June 2021 (from 12,413 to 14,109 offences).
• Driving under the influence increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 8,345 to 9,165 offences), and increased by 17% from the year ending June 2021 (from 7,821 to 9,165 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 14,306 to 13,240 offences), and decreased by 46% from the year ending June 2021 (from 24,699 to 13,240 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 37,706 to 40,346 offences), but decreased by 8% from the year ending June 2021 (from 43,787 to 40,346 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences increased by 30% compared to the previous year (from 7,796 to 10,117 offences), and increased by 47% from the year ending June 2021 (from 6,885 to 10,117 offences).
• Seat belt offences decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 2,256 to 2,165 offences), but increased by 23% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,756 to 2,165 offences).
• Mobile phone offences decreased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 3,761 to 3,395 offences), but increased by 117% from the year ending June 2021 (from 1,565 to 3,395 offences).
• Other road traffic offences decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 28,074 to 27,016 offences), but increased by 28% from the year ending June 2021 (from 21,132 to 27,016 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending June 2021 and the year ending June 2025, of the 32 Local Authorities, 15 saw an increase in recorded crime and 17 saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending June 2024 and the year ending June 2025, of the 32 Local Authorities, 17 Local Authorities saw an increase in recorded crime, one saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 14 saw a decrease in recorded crime.