Crime Recorded by Police
The most recent data shows that 299,780 crimes were recorded by Police Scotland in 2023/24. This is an increase of 4% from the previous year but an overall decrease since 2014/15.
Crimes are recorded in groups (see below). In 2023/24, the following numbers of crimes were recorded in Scotland in each group:
- Non-sexual crimes of violence: 71,463, an increase of 4% from the previous year. This is an increase of 9% since 2014/15
- Sexual crimes: 14,484, a decrease of 1% from the previous year. Looking further back. This is a 52% increase since 2014/15
- Crimes of dishonesty: 111,054, an increase of 7% from the previous year. This is a decrease of 12% since 2014/15
- Damage and reckless behaviour: 41,129, a decrease of 5% from the previous year. This is a decrease of 21% since 2014/15
- Crimes against society: 61,650, an increase of 4% from the previous year. This remains the same as it was in 2014/15.
More information on the breakdown of crimes recorded in each of these groups can be found in the Recorded Crime in Scotland publication.
You can also find information about the “Scottish Crime Recording Standard”, the rules used by Police Scotland for recording crimes, here.