Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending September 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 September 2021 to 2025.

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending September 2025, the police recorded 305,925 crimes. This was 2% (or 5,789 crimes) higher than the 300,136 crimes recorded in the previous year, and 3% higher than the 297,712 crimes recorded in the year ending September 2021.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

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

• were 3% (or 2,029 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 71,004 to 73,033 crimes), and
• were 14% (or 8,886 crimes) higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 64,147 to 73,033 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 48 to 47 crimes), and decreased by 13% from the year ending September 2021 (from 54 to 47 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving increased by 21% compared to the previous year (from 47 to 57 crimes), and increased by 36% from the year ending September 2021 (from 42 to 57 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 3,149 to 2,971 crimes), and decreased by 16% from the year ending September 2021 (from 3,548 to 2,971 crimes).
• Common assault increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 59,092 to 60,809 crimes), and increased by 13% from the year ending September 2021 (from 53,920 to 60,809 crimes).
• Robbery decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 1,894 to 1,777 crimes), but increased by 7% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,661 to 1,777 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 22% compared to the previous year (from 2,313 to 2,817 crimes), and increased by 64% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,716 to 2,817 crimes).
• Other non-sexual violence increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 4,461 to 4,555 crimes), and increased by 42% from the year ending September 2021 (from 3,206 to 4,555 crimes).

Sexual crimes

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

• were 7% (or 1,053 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 14,651 to 15,704 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 1,652 crimes) higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 14,052 to 15,704 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 2,746 to 3,043 crimes), and increased by 25% from the year ending September 2021 (from 2,436 to 3,043 crimes).
• Sexual assault increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 4,991 to 5,202 crimes), and increased by 11% from the year ending September 2021 (from 4,701 to 5,202 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 2,207 to 2,357 crimes), and increased by 7% from the year ending September 2021 (from 2,197 to 2,357 crimes).
• Communicating indecently increased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 1,522 to 1,644 crimes), and increased by 6% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,553 to 1,644 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 753 to 869 crimes), and increased by 5% from the year ending September 2021 (from 831 to 869 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children increased by 24% compared to the previous year (from 756 to 936 crimes), and increased by 37% from the year ending September 2021 (from 685 to 936 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution increased by 33% compared to the previous year (from 84 to 112 crimes), and increased by 62% from the year ending September 2021 (from 69 to 112 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 1,592 to 1,541 crimes), and decreased by 2% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,580 to 1,541 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

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

• were <1% (or 506 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 112,324 to 112,830 crimes), and
• were 26% (or 23,445 crimes) higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 89,385 to 112,830 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking decreased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 8,224 to 6,997 crimes), and decreased by 19% from the year ending September 2021 (from 8,622 to 6,997 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places decreased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 1,505 to 1,282 crimes), but increased by 7% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,198 to 1,282 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 26% compared to the previous year (from 2,079 to 1,533 crimes), and decreased by 20% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,917 to 1,533 crimes).
• Theft of a motor vehicle decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 4,904 to 4,676 crimes), but increased by 9% from the year ending September 2021 (from 4,283 to 4,676 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 42,271 to 48,564 crimes), and increased by 129% from the year ending September 2021 (from 21,175 to 48,564 crimes).
• Other theft decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 33,634 to 30,792 crimes), and decreased by 3% from the year ending September 2021 (from 31,765 to 30,792 crimes).
• Fraud decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 15,915 to 15,268 crimes), and decreased by 6% from the year ending September 2021 (from 16,165 to 15,268 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 2% compared to the previous year (from 3,792 to 3,718 crimes), and decreased by 13% from the year ending September 2021 (from 4,260 to 3,718 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

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

• were 4% (or 1,442 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 40,011 to 38,569 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 5,262 crimes) lower compared to the year ending September 2021 (decreasing from 43,831 to 38,569 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 2,468 to 2,843 crimes), and increased by 6% from the year ending September 2021 (from 2,692 to 2,843 crimes).
• Vandalism decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 34,569 to 32,622 crimes), and decreased by 14% from the year ending September 2021 (from 37,787 to 32,622 crimes).
• Reckless conduct increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 2,974 to 3,104 crimes), but decreased by 7% from the year ending September 2021 (from 3,352 to 3,104 crimes).

Crimes against society

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

• were 6% (or 3,643 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 62,146 to 65,789 crimes), but
• were 1% (or 647 crimes) lower compared to the year ending September 2021 (decreasing from 66,436 to 65,789 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 26,372 to 28,123 crimes), and increased by 18% from the year ending September 2021 (from 23,848 to 28,123 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 4,619 to 4,513 crimes), but increased by 4% from the year ending September 2021 (from 4,333 to 4,513 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) increased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 6,338 to 7,143 crimes), and increased by 27% from the year ending September 2021 (from 5,637 to 7,143 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply increased by 15% compared to the previous year (from 4,392 to 5,041 crimes), and increased by 5% from the year ending September 2021 (from 4,793 to 5,041 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 20,122 to 20,572 crimes), but decreased by 26% from the year ending September 2021 (from 27,661 to 20,572 crimes).
• Other crimes against society increased by 31% compared to the previous year (from 303 to 397 crimes), and increased by 142% from the year ending September 2021 (from 164 to 397 crimes).

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending September 2025, the police recorded 189,019 offences. This was 3% (or 4,935 offences) higher than the 184,084 offences recorded in the previous year, and 2% higher than the 185,863 offences recorded in the year ending September 2021.

Antisocial offences

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

• were 4% (or 2,195 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 49,609 to 51,804 offences), and
• were 7% (or 3,713 offences) lower compared to the year ending September 2021 (decreasing from 55,517 to 51,804 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 44,059 to 45,738 offences), but decreased by 4% from the year ending September 2021 (from 47,518 to 45,738 offences).
• Hate aggravated conduct increased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 1,815 to 1,872 offences), and increased by 10% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,697 to 1,872 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct increased by 12% compared to the previous year (from 2,732 to 3,054 offences), but decreased by 43% from the year ending September 2021 (from 5,346 to 3,054 offences).
• Urinating etc. increased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 1,003 to 1,140 offences), and increased by 19% from the year ending September 2021 (from 956 to 1,140 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

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

• were 1% (or 162 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 14,200 to 14,038 offences), and
• were 7% (or 920 offences) higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 13,118 to 14,038 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 10,164 to 10,284 offences), and increased by 11% from the year ending September 2021 (from 9,298 to 10,284 offences).
• Environmental offences increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 496 to 533 offences), but decreased by 2% from the year ending September 2021 (from 545 to 533 offences).
• Licensing offences decreased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 865 to 833 offences), and decreased by 2% from the year ending September 2021 (from 853 to 833 offences).
• Wildlife offences increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 1,522 to 1,652 offences), and increased by 14% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,449 to 1,652 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences decreased by 36% compared to the previous year (from 1,153 to 736 offences), and decreased by 24% from the year ending September 2021 (from 973 to 736 offences).

Road traffic offences

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

• were 2% (or 2,902 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 120,275 to 123,177 offences), and
• were 5% (or 5,949 offences) higher compared to the year ending September 2021 (increasing from 117,228 to 123,177 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 13,288 to 14,576 offences), and increased by 15% from the year ending September 2021 (from 12,640 to 14,576 offences).
• Driving under the influence increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 8,561 to 9,368 offences), and increased by 22% from the year ending September 2021 (from 7,652 to 9,368 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 25% compared to the previous year (from 18,549 to 13,947 offences), and decreased by 42% from the year ending September 2021 (from 23,901 to 13,947 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle increased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 38,320 to 41,114 offences), but decreased by 3% from the year ending September 2021 (from 42,528 to 41,114 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences increased by 46% compared to the previous year (from 7,459 to 10,902 offences), and increased by 73% from the year ending September 2021 (from 6,305 to 10,902 offences).
• Seat belt offences decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 2,334 to 2,224 offences), but increased by 44% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,540 to 2,224 offences).
• Mobile phone offences decreased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 3,954 to 3,431 offences), but increased by 149% from the year ending September 2021 (from 1,378 to 3,431 offences).
• Other road traffic offences decreased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 27,810 to 27,615 offences), but increased by 30% from the year ending September 2021 (from 21,284 to 27,615 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending September 2024 and the year ending September 2025, of the 32 Local Authorities, 18 Local Authorities saw an increase in recorded crime, four saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 10 saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending September 2021 and the year ending September 2025, of the 32 Local Authorities, 15 saw an increase in recorded crime, one saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 16 saw a decrease in recorded crime.