Homicide in Scotland, 2016-17

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published Homicide in Scotland, 2016-17. The publication provides information on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2016-17. The main findings are:

Between 2015-16 and 2016-17, the number of homicide cases recorded by the police in Scotland increased by 5% (3 cases) from 58 to 61. This is the joint second 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 2007-08 to 2016-17, the number of homicide cases in Scotland fell by 47% (54 cases) from 115 to 61.

In 2016-17, 64 victims of homicide were recorded, 10% (6 victims) more than the 58 victims recorded in 2015-16. As at 31 March 2017, three cases of homicide recorded in 2016-17 were unsolved.

In 2016-17, 77 persons were accused of homicide and 88% (68) of them were male. Of the 64 victims, 75% (48) were also male.

For each of the last ten years, the most common method of killing was with a sharp instrument. In 2016-17, a sharp instrument was the main method of killing for 47% (30) of homicide victims.

Background

The full statistical publication can be accessed here.

The term “sharp instrument” includes knives, broken bottles, swords, sharpened screwdrivers and any other pointed or edged weapons.