Scotland's Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in
Scotland, year ending December 2024.
In the year ending December 2024:
The police in Scotland recorded 298,308 crimes. This was 1% lower
than the 302,076 crimes recorded in the year ending December
2023, but 1% higher than the 296,263 crimes recorded in the year
ending December 2020.
Non-sexual crimes of violence were 2% lower compared to the year
ending December 2023 (decreasing from 71,900 to 70,637 crimes),
but 10% higher compared to the year ending December 2020
(increasing from 63,938 to 70,637 crimes).
Sexual crimes were 2% lower compared to the year ending December
2023 (decreasing from 14,894 to 14,539 crimes), but 11% higher
compared to the year ending December 2020 (increasing from 13,106
to 14,539 crimes).
Crimes of dishonesty were less than 1% lower compared to the year
ending December 2023 (decreasing from 111,682 to 111,265 crimes),
but 16% higher compared to the year ending December 2020
(increasing from 96,286 to 111,265 crimes).
Damage and reckless behaviour was 7% lower compared to the year
ending December 2023 (decreasing from 42,124 to 39,249 crimes),
and 12% lower compared to the year ending December 2020
(decreasing from 44,419 to 39,249 crimes).
Crimes against society were 2% higher compared to the year ending
December 2023 (increasing from 61,476 to 62,618 crimes), but 10%
lower compared to the year ending December 2020 (decreasing from
69,241 to 62,618 crimes).
The number of offences recorded by the police in Scotland was
177,172. This is 1% lower than the 179,616 offences recorded in
the year ending December 2023, and 6% lower than the 187,752
offences recorded in the year ending December 2020.
Background
- The full statistical publication can be accessed at:
Recorded Crime in
Scotland: year ending December 2024.
- The statistics provide information on recorded crimes up to
year ending December 2024, and the previous four years. For
additional and more detailed commentary on the recording of
crimes and offences, we recommend users refer to the 2023-24 (or
year ending March 2024) Accredited Official
Statistics bulletin. This includes time series analysis
over the longer term (back to 1971), statistics on cyber-crimes
and clear-up rates.
- Contraventions of Scottish criminal law are divided for
statistical purposes into crimes and offences. ‘Crime' is
generally used for the more serious criminal acts. The less
serious termed ‘offences', although the term ‘offence' may also
be used in relation to serious breaches of criminal law. The
distinction is made only for statistical reporting purposes and
the ‘seriousness' of the offence is generally related to the
maximum sentence that can be imposed.
- Further information on Crime and Justice statistics within
Scotland can be accessed at: Crime and justice
statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
