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Publication - Statistics

Violence Prevention Framework for Scotland: Monitoring Framework, 2025

Published
16 December 2025
From
Minister for Victims and Community Safety, +1 more … Director of Safer Communities
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Law and order

Monitoring framework to support the delivery of the Violence Prevention Framework for Scotland.

Part of

Supporting documents

5. Reduction in violence in the evening economy

The VPF acknowledges the importance of ensuring that our evening economy remains safe and free from violence, particularly for all that live, work and visit our towns and city centres. This indicator theme monitors trends in the proportion of adults experiencing violent crime occurring after 6pm and at the weekend.

Between 2008-09 and 2023-24 the proportion of adults reporting experiencing a violent crime in locations commonly associated with the evening economy[33] in the SCJS fell from 18% to 9%. Indicator 6 examines the location of violent crime in community settings in more detail.

5.1 Proportion of violent crime occurring after 6pm

Figure 10: The proportion of violent crime occurring after 6pm is at a similar level to 2008-09.

Proportion of violent crime occurring after 6pm, Scotland, 2008-09 to 2023-24.

Line chart showing the estimated proportion of violent crime occurring after 6pm in Scotland from 2008-09 to 2023-24 has remained at 36%, with some fluctuations.

Source: Scottish Government - Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023/24.

In 2023-24, 36% of adults experiencing a violent crime reported that this occurred after 6pm. This has fluctuated over time but shows no clear long term trend, and is now the same as it was in 2008-09.

5.2 Proportion of violent crime occurring at the weekend

Figure 11: The proportion of violent crime occurring at the weekend has decreased from 55% in 2008-09 to 37% in 2023-24.

Proportion of violent crime occurring at the weekend, Scotland, 2008-09 to 2023-24.

Line chart showing the estimated proportion of violent crime occurring at the weekend in Scotland has decreased from 55% in 2008-09 to 37% in 2023-24.

Source: Scottish Government - Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023/24.

The 2023-24 SJCS shows that almost two-fifths (37%) of violent crime took place at the weekend, with the rest taking place during the week or the respondent didn’t know. This has not changed much in recent years, but is lower than 2008-09 when 55% of incidents took place at the weekend.

[33] The SCJS locations included were: In/around a pub/bar/nightclub/working men’s club.

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

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