Sex crimes reach second-highest level in 54 years – statistics

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, having peaked in 2021-22 when there were 15,059 recorded crimes.

Cyber crime 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.

Cyber crime 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 2019-20 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%.

The Scottish Government said that violent crimes have “dipped slightly over the year” and continue to be 23% lower than in 2006-07 – with serious assault and attempted murder now at their lowest level since 1977.

Vandalism was said to be down 73% from 2006-07. However, there was has been a 16% rise in shoplifting, according to the government.

There was a rise in recorded sexual crimes (up 3%), with rape and attempted rape up by 15%, which was branded “concerning” by Justice Secretary Angela Constance. The Scottish Government said that a quarter of these crimes were reported at least one year after they had occurred.

We need a robust criminal justice system that survivors and the wider public can have faith in. But the reality is, Scotland is not doing enough to stop rape before it happens

Ms Constance said: “These figures show that Scotland continues to be safe place to live with reported crime falling by more than half since 1991. This comes on the back of the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey which also showed people feel safer in their communities.

“Violent crime is down significantly in the past 20 years, with serious assaults and homicide levels at record lows. However, we cannot afford to be complacent and I have been consistently clear that any instance of violence is one too many.

“That is why we are taking a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, with more than £6 million funding invested over the past three years.

“I am concerned these figures also show a rise in reported sexual crimes. Multiple factors will lie behind this and our action to tackle sexual offending includes increasing confidence in the justice system so more victims come forward, improving support for victims and modernising the law on sexual offences.

“I also recognise the significant harm and disruption caused by retail crime, which is why we have made £3 million available in this year’s Budget for Police Scotland to work with the retail sector to help tackle this issue.

“This year we will invest £4.2 billion across the justice system including a record £1.64 billion for policing – an increase of £70 million on 2024-25.

“As part of the Scottish Government’s broader package to tackle violence, we have increased funding to the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit from £1.17 million last year to over £1.2 million this year.

“Projects supporting young people at risk of being drawn into criminal activities, under the Cashback for Communities programme, will receive up to £26 million over the next three financial years.”

Rape Crisis Scotland’s director of prevention and training, Kathryn Dawson, said: “Despite record numbers of reported rape, it has the lowest conviction rate of any crime in Scotland. It also remains incredibly under-reported, so these figures still do not show the full extent of people affected.

“We need a robust criminal justice system that survivors and the wider public can have faith in. But the reality is, Scotland is not doing enough to stop rape before it happens.

“The rise of reported rapes shows a consistent failure to tackle the root causes of sexual violence.

“We hear from young women and girls who experience sexual harassment and sexual assault at school. We are told about teenage boys quoting dangerous figures like Andrew Tate, and young people being influenced by violent sexual content which is terrifyingly easy to access.”