Homicide in Scotland 2015-2016: statistics

Homicide in Scotland 2015-16

This bulletin presents statistics on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2015-16. Statistics are presented on the number of homicide cases recorded in Scotland, where a single case of homicide is counted for each crime involving Murder or Culpable homicide (common law), irrespective of the number of victims or accused. This bulletin also presents victim and accused data, the circumstances associated with the homicide, and additional details relating to the method, motive and relationship between the victim and the accused.

Key Points

• Between 2014-15 and 2015-16, the number of homicide cases recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 8% (5 cases) from 62 to 57 (Table 1). This is the lowest number of recorded homicide cases for a single twelve month period since 1976, the first year for which comparable data are available.
• Over the ten year period from 2006-07 to 2015-16, the number of homicide cases in Scotland fell by 52% (62 cases) from 119 to 57 (Table 1). Glasgow City accounted for almost one third (31%) of this decrease. In 2015-16, almost one quarter (14) of the 57 national recorded homicide cases occurred within Glasgow City.
• In 2015-16, 57 victims of homicide were recorded, 8% (5 victims) less than the 62 victims recorded in 2014-15 (Table 1). As at 31 March 2016, only one case of homicide recorded in 2015-16 was unresolved (Tables 13, 14 & 17).
• In 2015-16, 65 persons were accused of homicide and 86% (56) of them were male (Table 6). Of the 57 victims, 72% (41) were also male (Table 5).
• For each of the last ten years, the most common method of killing was with a sharp instrument. In 2015-16, a sharp instrument was the main method of killing for 51% (29) of homicide victims.

Homicide in Scotland 2015-16