Homicide in Scotland, 2014-15

Homicide in Scotland 2014-15

This bulletin presents statistics on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2014-15. 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. Victim and accused data are then provided, followed by the circumstances associated with the homicide. Additional details relating to the method, motive and relationship between the victim and the accused are also shown.

Key Points

• Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, the number of homicide cases recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 2% (or 1 case) from 60 to 59. 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 2005-06 to 2014-15, the number of homicide cases in Scotland fell by 36 (or 38%) from 95 to 59. Glasgow City accounts for half of this decrease. In 2014-15, 24% (or 14) out of the 59 national recorded homicide cases occurred within Glasgow City.
• In 2014-15, the police in Scotland recorded 59 victims of homicide, two less than the 61 victims recorded in 2013-14. As at 31 March 2015, no cases of homicide recorded in 2014-15 were unsolved.
• In 2014/15, 77 persons were accused of homicide and 91% (or 70) of them were male. Of the 59 victims, 76% (or 45) were also male.
• For each of the last ten years period, the most common method of killing was with a sharp instrument. In 2014-15, a sharp instrument was the main method of killing of 33 homicide victims (56%).