Sex crimes in Scotland reach second-highest level in 54 years

Sex crimes in Scotland are at their second-highest level in 54 years, according to new statistics.

Scotland’s chief statistician has released data about recorded crime showing that between 2023-24 and 2024-25, sex crimes are now at the second-highest level seen since 1971, the first year for which comparable groups are available.

However, the recording of overall crime remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic (2019-20) and down 51% from its peak in 1991, according to statisticians.

Sexual crimes increased by 3%, from 14,484 to 14,892. These crimes are now at their second-highest level since 1971.

Cybercrime has doubled since 2019-20, according to new data, but damage and reckless behaviour crimes decreased to their lowest level since 1976, by 6%, down from 41,129 to 38,738.

There was little change in overall crimes recorded by Police Scotland, decreasing by less than 1% from 299,790 to 299,111, and little change in non-sexual violent crime, decreasing by less than 1%, from 71,473 to 71,170.

Common assault (down less than 1%) makes up the clear majority (83%) of all non-sexual crimes of violence recorded in 2024-25.

Cybercrime fell since last year, but has increased since the pandemic, with around 27% of sex crimes occurring online, data showed.

In 2024-25, an estimated 14,120 cyber crimes were recorded by Police Scotland – a decrease of 2,770 crimes (or 16%) when compared to the estimated volume for 2023-24 (16,890).

However ,it was almost double the pre-pandemic year of 2019-2,0 with 7,710 cyber crimes recorded.

Cyber crimes accounted for at least 5% of total recorded crime in 2024-25, including 27% of sexual crimes, 7% of crimes of dishonesty and 3% of non-sexual crimes of violence, according to data.

Statisticians said that crimes against society increased by 3% from 61,650 to 63,398, primarily crimes against public justice (42%) or drug possession (32%).

Lower-level offences recorded by Police Scotland collectively increased by 1%, from 174,073 to 175,919.

This included increases in miscellaneous offences (up 1%) and road traffic offences (up 1%), whilst antisocial offences changed very little, increasing by less than 1%.