Scotland sees 10% rise in sexual crimes in a year

Key Points

Rape and attempted rape has increased by 12% since 2024
Domestic abuse rises by 25% compared to the previous year
Crimes of dishonesty have risen by 27% since 2021
Number of offences recorded by police 8% higher than the previous year
Anti-social and road traffic offences have risen
Hate aggravated conduct decreases by 3%

Sexual crime in Scotland has risen by 10% in a year, new statistics reveal.

In the year ending December 2025, there were 16,029 sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland – increasing from 10% from 2024 and 2021.

Rape and attempted rape has increased by 12% from 2024 and 26% since 2021. Sexual assault has increased by 5% while communicating indecently increased by 21% and threatening to or disclosing intimate images increased by 16%.

Recorded incidents of indecent photos of children increased by 20% compared to the previous year (from 797 to 959 crimes), and increased by 48% from the year ending December 2021.

Domestic abuse crimes increased by 25% compared to the previous year and increased by 75% from the year ending December 2021.

Across the country, the number of all recorded crimes has risen by 3% over the past year.

Police Scotland recorded 308,532 crimes in the year ending December 2025 – 3% higher than the 298,306 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2024, and 6% higher than the 292,316 crimes recorded in the year ending December 2021.

Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 4% compared to the previous year, from 49 to 47 crimes, and decreased by 22% from the year ending December 2021.

Death by dangerous driving has also decreased by 12% compared to the previous year, but increased by 41% from the year ending December 2021 (from 37 to 52 crimes).

The number of non-sexual crimes of violence has increased by 5% compared to 2024 and 13% since 2021.

Crimes of dishonesty were 2% higher than in 2024 and 27% higher compared to the year ending December 2021.

Damage and reckless behaviour was 3% lower compared to the year ending December 2024, and 13% lower compared to the year ending December 2021.

Crimes against society were 6% higher compared to the year ending December 2024, and 6% higher compared to the year ending December 2021.

The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending December 2025 was 191,153 – 8% higher than the previous year.

Anti-social offences were 7% higher than last year but 6% lower compared to the year ended December 2021.

Meanwhile, road traffic offences were 9% higher than the year ending December 2024 and 10% higher than 2021.

Hate aggravated conduct decreased by 3% compared to the previous year (from 1,861 to 1,803 offences), but increased by 6% from the year ending December 2021.

Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct increased by 28%, threatening and abusive behaviour increased by 6%, shoplifting increased by 15%, dangerous and careless driving increased by 13%, speeding increased by 9%, and driving under the influence increased by 7%.

The Scottish Government has said that the pandemic and limited social contact has affected the type and volume of crime reported between March 2020 and April 2022.