Main findings

Figure 1. Trends in recorded crimes and offences over the last five years have varied by crime group

Crimes and offences recorded by Police Scotland, by crime group, year ending June 2020 to 2024

Crimes recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2024, the police recorded 300,070 crimes. This was 3% (or 7,368 crimes) higher than the 292,702 crimes recorded in the previous year, and similar to the 300,333 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2020.

Non-sexual crimes of violence

The number of Non-sexual crimes of violence in the year ending June 2024:

• were 2% (or 1,205 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 70,136 to 71,341 crimes), and
• were 9% (or 6,113 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2020 (increasing from 65,228 to 71,341 crimes).

Within this:

• Murder and culpable homicide increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 54 to 57 crimes), but decreased by 8% from the year ending June 2020 (from 62 to 57 crimes).
• Death by dangerous driving remained unchanged compared to the previous year (at 46 crimes), but decreased by 13% from the year ending June 2020 (from 53 to 46 crimes).
• Serious assault and attempted murder decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 3,498 to 3,443 crimes), and decreased by 10% from the year ending June 2020 (from 3,810 to 3,443 crimes).
• Common assault increased by 1% compared to the previous year (from 58,581 to 59,198 crimes), and increased by 7% from the year ending June 2020 (from 55,361 to 59,198 crimes).
• Robbery increased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 1,672 to 1,938 crimes), and increased by 9% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,773 to 1,938 crimes).
• Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 crimes increased by 22% compared to the previous year (from 1,784 to 2,169 crimes), and increased by 34% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,623 to 2,169 crimes). The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 came into effect on 1 April 2019.
• Other non-sexual violence decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 4,501 to 4,490 crimes), but increased by 76% from the year ending June 2020 (from 2,546 to 4,490 crimes).

Sexual crimes

The number of Sexual crimes in the year ending June 2024:

• were 3% (or 417 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 14,834 to 14,417 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 1,595 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2020 (increasing from 12,822 to 14,417 crimes).

Within this:

• Rape and attempted rape increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 2,567 to 2,609 crimes), and increased by 18% from the year ending June 2020 (from 2,202 to 2,609 crimes).
• Sexual assault decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 5,237 to 4,959 crimes), but increased by 11% from the year ending June 2020 (from 4,478 to 4,959 crimes).
• Causing to view sexual activity or images increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 2,150 to 2,184 crimes), and increased by 10% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,978 to 2,184 crimes).
• Communicating indecently decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 1,595 to 1,543 crimes), and decreased by 1% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,557 to 1,543 crimes).
• Threatening to or disclosing intimate images decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 819 to 771 crimes), but increased by 30% from the year ending June 2020 (from 594 to 771 crimes).
• Indecent photos of children decreased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 795 to 707 crimes), but increased by 17% from the year ending June 2020 (from 604 to 707 crimes).
• Crimes associated with prostitution increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 67 to 71 crimes), but decreased by 24% from the year ending June 2020 (from 93 to 71 crimes).
• Other sexual crimes decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 1,604 to 1,573 crimes), but increased by 20% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,316 to 1,573 crimes).

Crimes of dishonesty

The number of Crimes of dishonesty in the year ending June 2024:

• were 8% (or 7,889 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 104,495 to 112,384 crimes), and
• were 7% (or 7,451 crimes) higher compared to the year ending June 2020 (increasing from 104,933 to 112,384 crimes).

Within this:

• Housebreaking increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 8,809 to 8,838 crimes), but decreased by 29% from the year ending June 2020 (from 12,421 to 8,838 crimes).
• Theft by opening lockfast places increased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 1,257 to 1,464 crimes), but decreased by 8% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,584 to 1,464 crimes).
• Theft from a motor vehicle increased by 13% compared to the previous year (from 1,984 to 2,234 crimes), but decreased by 23% from the year ending June 2020 (from 2,888 to 2,234 crimes).
• Theft of a motor vehicle decreased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 5,208 to 5,085 crimes), but increased by 4% from the year ending June 2020 (from 4,889 to 5,085 crimes).
• Shoplifting increased by 34% compared to the previous year (from 30,202 to 40,554 crimes), and increased by 50% from the year ending June 2020 (from 27,045 to 40,554 crimes).
• Other theft decreased by 7% compared to the previous year (from 36,532 to 34,096 crimes), and decreased by 12% from the year ending June 2020 (from 38,553 to 34,096 crimes).
• Fraud decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 16,956 to 16,405 crimes), but increased by 30% from the year ending June 2020 (from 12,635 to 16,405 crimes). Further explanation on the changes in levels of recorded fraud are available in the Recorded Crime in Scotland annual bulletin.
• Other dishonesty increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 3,547 to 3,708 crimes), but decreased by 25% from the year ending June 2020 (from 4,918 to 3,708 crimes).

Damage and reckless behaviour

The number of Damage and reckless behaviour crimes in the year ending June 2024:

• were 6% (or 2,647 crimes) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 42,932 to 40,285 crimes), and
• were 12% (or 5,529 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2020 (decreasing from 45,814 to 40,285 crimes).

Within this:

• Fire-raising decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 2,718 to 2,491 crimes), and decreased by 2% from the year ending June 2020 (from 2,539 to 2,491 crimes).
• Vandalism decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 36,961 to 34,751 crimes), and decreased by 15% from the year ending June 2020 (from 40,721 to 34,751 crimes).
• Reckless conduct decreased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 3,253 to 3,043 crimes), but increased by 19% from the year ending June 2020 (from 2,554 to 3,043 crimes).

Crimes against society

The number of Crimes against society in the year ending June 2024:

• were 2% (or 1,338 crimes) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 60,305 to 61,643 crimes), and
• were 8% (or 5,200 crimes) lower compared to the year ending June 2020 (decreasing from 66,843 to 61,643 crimes).

Within this:

• Crimes against public justice increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 23,479 to 25,814 crimes), and increased by 22% from the year ending June 2020 (from 21,097 to 25,814 crimes).
• Weapons possession (not used) increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 4,283 to 4,724 crimes), and increased by 3% from the year ending June 2020 (from 4,588 to 4,724 crimes).
• Weapons possession (used) increased by 4% compared to the previous year (from 5,871 to 6,130 crimes), and increased by 18% from the year ending June 2020 (from 5,213 to 6,130 crimes).
• Drugs - Supply increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 4,123 to 4,213 crimes), but decreased by 12% from the year ending June 2020 (from 4,803 to 4,213 crimes).
• Drugs - Possession decreased by 8% compared to the previous year (from 22,277 to 20,499 crimes), and decreased by 34% from the year ending June 2020 (from 30,957 to 20,499 crimes).
• Other crimes against society decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 272 to 263 crimes), but increased by 42% from the year ending June 2020 (from 185 to 263 crimes).

Offences recorded by the police

In the year ending June 2024, the police recorded 177,849 offences. This was 3% (or 4,926 offences) higher than the 172,923 offences recorded in the previous year, but 5% lower than the 187,790 offences recorded in the year ending June 2020.

Antisocial offences

The number of Antisocial offences in the year ending June 2024:

• were <1% (or 468 offences) lower compared to the previous year (decreasing from 49,033 to 48,565 offences), and
• were 18% (or 10,949 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2020 (decreasing from 59,514 to 48,565 offences).

Within this:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 43,229 to 43,575 offences), but decreased by 13% from the year ending June 2020 (from 49,931 to 43,575 offences).
• Hate aggravated conduct increased by 11% compared to the previous year (from 1,529 to 1,702 offences), but decreased by 3% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,763 to 1,702 offences).
• Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct decreased by 29% compared to the previous year (from 3,343 to 2,388 offences), and decreased by 60% from the year ending June 2020 (from 5,943 to 2,388 offences).
• Urinating etc. decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 932 to 900 offences), and decreased by 52% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,877 to 900 offences).

Miscellaneous offences

The number of Miscellaneous offences in the year ending June 2024:

• were 8% (or 1,046 offences) higher compared to the previous year (increasing from 12,965 to 14,011 offences), and
• were 17% (or 1,996 offences) higher compared to the year ending June 2020 (increasing from 12,015 to 14,011 offences).

Within this:

• Community and public order offences increased by 9% compared to the previous year (from 9,138 to 9,922 offences), and increased by 23% from the year ending June 2020 (from 8,067 to 9,922 offences).
• Environmental offences increased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 464 to 468 offences), but decreased by 30% from the year ending June 2020 (from 670 to 468 offences).
• Licensing offences decreased by <1% compared to the previous year (from 842 to 841 offences), and decreased by 25% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,122 to 841 offences).
• Wildlife offences increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 1,432 to 1,522 offences), and increased by 11% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,376 to 1,522 offences).
• Other miscellaneous offences increased by 16% compared to the previous year (from 1,089 to 1,258 offences), and increased by 61% from the year ending June 2020 (from 780 to 1,258 offences).

Road traffic offences

The number of Road traffic offences in the year ending June 2024:

• were 4% (or 4,348 offences) higher compared to the previous year (decreasing from 110,925 to 115,273 offences), and
• were <1% (or 988 offences) lower compared to the year ending June 2020 (decreasing from 116,261 to 115,273 offences).

Within this:

• Dangerous and careless driving increased by 2% compared to the previous year (from 12,833 to 13,029 offences), and increased by 14% from the year ending June 2020 (from 11,429 to 13,029 offences).
• Driving under the influence increased by 6% compared to the previous year (from 7,878 to 8,345 offences), and increased by 14% from the year ending June 2020 (from 7,300 to 8,345 offences).
• Speeding decreased by 23% compared to the previous year (from 18,596 to 14,306 offences), and decreased by 43% from the year ending June 2020 (from 25,302 to 14,306 offences).
• Unlawful use of vehicle increased by 5% compared to the previous year (from 36,005 to 37,706 offences), but decreased by 5% from the year ending June 2020 (from 39,772 to 37,706 offences).
• Vehicle defect offences increased by 30% compared to the previous year (from 6,009 to 7,796 offences), and increased by 20% from the year ending June 2020 (from 6,502 to 7,796 offences).
• Seat belt offences increased by 10% compared to the previous year (from 2,044 to 2,256 offences), and increased by 4% from the year ending June 2020 (from 2,175 to 2,256 offences).
• Mobile phone offences increased by 25% compared to the previous year (from 3,015 to 3,761 offences), and increased by 96% from the year ending June 2020 (from 1,918 to 3,761 offences).
• Other road traffic offences increased by 14% compared to the previous year (from 24,545 to 28,074 offences), and increased by 28% from the year ending June 2020 (from 21,863 to 28,074 offences).

Local Authorities

Between the year ending June 2020 and the year ending June 2024, of the 32 Local Authorities, 15 saw an increase in recorded crime, two saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 15 saw a decrease in recorded crime.

Between the year ending June 2023 and the year ending June 2024, of the 32 Local Authorities, 19 Local Authorities saw an increase in recorded crime, three saw very little (less than half a percentage) change, and 10 saw a decrease in recorded crime.