Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending June 2026

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 2022 to 2026.

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2026, the police recorded 323,531 crimes. This was 7% (or 20,188 crimes) higher than the 303,343 crimes recorded in the previous year, and 13% higher than the 285,975 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2022.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

The number of Non-sexual crimes of violence in the year ending June 2026:

• were 7% (or 5,090 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 71,915 to 77,005 crimes), and
• were 10% (or 6,848 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2022 (increasing from 70,157 to 77,005 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide increased by 40% compared to the previous year (from 35 to 49 crimes), but decreased by 2% from the year ending June 2022 (from 50 to 49 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving decreased by 23% compared to the previous year (from 62 to 48 crimes), but increased by 23% from the year ending June 2022 (from 39 to 48 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 2,924 to 3,069 crimes), but decreased by 19% from the year ending June 2022 (from 3,793 to 3,069 crimes).
• Common assault increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 59,892 to 63,852 crimes), and increased by 8% from the year ending June 2022 (from 59,081 to 63,852 crimes).
• Robbery increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 1,803 to 1,882 crimes), and increased by 17% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,604 to 1,882 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 19% compared to the previous year (from 2,742 to 3,264 crimes), and increased by 81% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,800 to 3,264 crimes).
• Other non-sexual violence increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 4,457 to 4,841 crimes), and increased by 28% from the year ending June 2022 (from 3,790 to 4,841 crimes).

Sexual crimes

The number of Sexual crimes in the year ending June 2026:

• were 9% (or 1,431 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 15,129 to 16,560 crimes), and
• were 11% (or 1,680 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2022 (increasing from 14,880 to 16,560 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 3,004 to 3,240 crimes), and increased by 32% from the year ending June 2022 (from 2,455 to 3,240 crimes).
• Sexual assault increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 5,108 to 5,281 crimes), but decreased by 4% from the year ending June 2022 (from 5,495 to 5,281 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 2,184 to 2,576 crimes), and increased by 19% from the year ending June 2022 (from 2,166 to 2,576 crimes).
• Communicating indecently increased by 17% compared to the previous year (from 1,514 to 1,770 crimes), and increased by 15% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,533 to 1,770 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images increased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 785 to 893 crimes), and increased by 3% from the year ending June 2022 (from 870 to 893 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 898 to 962 crimes), and increased by 41% from the year ending June 2022 (from 683 to 962 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution decreased by 43% compared to the previous year (from 121 to 69 crimes), and decreased by 12% from the year ending June 2022 (from 78 to 69 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes increased by 17% compared to the previous year (from 1,515 to 1,769 crimes), and increased by 11% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,600 to 1,769 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

The number of Crimes of dishonesty in the year ending June 2026:

• were 10% (or 11,485 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 112,421 to 123,906 crimes), and
• were 27% (or 26,699 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2022 (increasing from 97,207 to 123,906 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 7,161 to 7,168 crimes), but decreased by 18% from the year ending June 2022 (from 8,705 to 7,168 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,346 to 1,241 crimes), and decreased by 1% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,251 to 1,241 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,708 to 1,572 crimes), and decreased by 25% from the year ending June 2022 (from 2,086 to 1,572 crimes).
• Theft of a motor vehicle increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 4,699 to 5,123 crimes), and increased by 9% from the year ending June 2022 (from 4,691 to 5,123 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 20% compared to the previous year (from 47,381 to 56,920 crimes), and increased by 129% from the year ending June 2022 (from 24,877 to 56,920 crimes).
• Other theft decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 31,306 to 31,097 crimes), and decreased by 12% from the year ending June 2022 (from 35,440 to 31,097 crimes).
• Fraud increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 15,121 to 16,183 crimes), but decreased by 2% from the year ending June 2022 (from 16,461 to 16,183 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 24% compared to the previous year (from 3,699 to 4,602 crimes), and increased by 25% from the year ending June 2022 (from 3,696 to 4,602 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

The number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes in the year ending June 2026:

• were 2% (or 963 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 38,925 to 37,962 crimes), and
• were 15% (or 6,493 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2022 (decreasing from 44,455 to 37,962 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising decreased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 2,804 to 2,401 crimes), and decreased by 8% from the year ending June 2022 (from 2,623 to 2,401 crimes).
• Vandalism decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 33,044 to 32,480 crimes), and decreased by 16% from the year ending June 2022 (from 38,582 to 32,480 crimes).
• Reckless conduct increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 3,077 to 3,081 crimes), but decreased by 5% from the year ending June 2022 (from 3,250 to 3,081 crimes).

Crimes against society

The number of Crimes against society in the year ending June 2026:

• were 5% (or 3,145 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 64,953 to 68,098 crimes), and
• were 15% (or 8,918 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2022 (increasing from 59,180 to 68,098 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 27,317 to 29,943 crimes), and increased by 31% from the year ending June 2022 (from 22,895 to 29,943 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 4,488 to 4,770 crimes), and increased by 17% from the year ending June 2022 (from 4,093 to 4,770 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) increased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 6,948 to 7,809 crimes), and increased by 36% from the year ending June 2022 (from 5,757 to 7,809 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 4,980 to 5,179 crimes), and increased by 35% from the year ending June 2022 (from 3,838 to 5,179 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 20,857 to 19,941 crimes), and decreased by 11% from the year ending June 2022 (from 22,390 to 19,941 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 26% compared to the previous year (from 363 to 456 crimes), and increased by 120% from the year ending June 2022 (from 207 to 456 crimes).

Offences recorded by the police

Antisocial offences

The number of Antisocial offences in the year ending June 2026:

• were 1% (or 762 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 50,810 to 51,572 offences), and
• were 6% (or 3,449 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2022 (decreasing from 55,021 to 51,572 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 44,922 to 46,056 offences), but decreased by 2% from the year ending June 2022 (from 47,065 to 46,056 offences).
• Hate aggravated conduct decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 1,822 to 1,732 offences), but increased by 5% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,652 to 1,732 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 2,971 to 2,778 offences), and decreased by 41% from the year ending June 2022 (from 4,714 to 2,778 offences).
• Urinating etc. decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,095 to 1,006 offences), and decreased by 37% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,590 to 1,006 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

The number of Miscellaneous offences in the year ending June 2026:

• were <1% (or 39 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 13,968 to 14,007 offences), and
• were 9% (or 1,195 offences) higher compared to the year ending June 2022 (increasing from 12,812 to 14,007 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 10,151 to 10,490 offences), and increased by 14% from the year ending June 2022 (from 9,189 to 10,490 offences).
• Environmental offences decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 521 to 484 offences), but increased by 5% from the year ending June 2022 (from 463 to 484 offences).
• Licensing offences decreased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 850 to 773 offences), and decreased by 4% from the year ending June 2022 (from 802 to 773 offences).
• Wildlife offences decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 1,612 to 1,607 offences), but increased by 10% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,456 to 1,607 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences decreased by 22% compared to the previous year (from 834 to 653 offences), and decreased by 28% from the year ending June 2022 (from 902 to 653 offences).

Road traffic offences

The number of Road traffic offences in the year ending June 2026:

• were 4% (or 5,203 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 119,553 to 124,756 offences), and
• were 14% (or 15,629 offences) higher compared to the year ending June 2022 (increasing from 109,127 to 124,756 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 14,109 to 15,516 offences), and increased by 20% from the year ending June 2022 (from 12,968 to 15,516 offences).
• Driving under the influence decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 9,165 to 9,066 offences), but increased by 19% from the year ending June 2022 (from 7,615 to 9,066 offences).
• Speeding decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 13,240 to 13,238 offences), and decreased by 34% from the year ending June 2022 (from 19,929 to 13,238 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 40,346 to 41,135 offences), and increased by 13% from the year ending June 2022 (from 36,514 to 41,135 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences increased by 18% compared to the previous year (from 10,117 to 11,973 offences), and increased by 113% from the year ending June 2022 (from 5,611 to 11,973 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 2,165 to 2,495 offences), and increased by 40% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,781 to 2,495 offences).
• Mobile phone offences decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 3,395 to 3,353 offences), but increased by 75% from the year ending June 2022 (from 1,914 to 3,353 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 27,016 to 27,980 offences), and increased by 23% from the year ending June 2022 (from 22,795 to 27,980 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending June 2025 and the year ending June 2026, of the 32 Local Authorities, 26 Local Authorities saw an increase in recorded crime, one saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and five saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending June 2022 and the year ending June 2026, of the 32 Local Authorities, 26 saw an increase in recorded crime, one saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and five saw a decrease in recorded crime.