Domestic abuse and indecent messages on the rise in Scotland

Crimes reported to police in Scotland rose by 3% last year, according to new government data.

The crimes that increased the most include domestic abuse incidents (which rose by 25% between 2024-25), indecent communications (21%), indecent photos of children (20%) and shoplifting (15%).

Reports of rape and attempted rape, fire-raising, supply of drugs and dangerous and careless driving also increased.

Categories of crime which have decreased include housebreaking (down 14%) and theft from vehicles (down 24%).

Police recorded a total of 308,532 crimes in Scotland in the year ending December 2025 - 10,226 more crimes than the year before and nearly 300,000 more crimes than in 2021.

The number of murders or culpable homicides reported was 47, down from 49 in 2024. Serious assault and attempted murder was also down.

There was 3,009 reports of domestic violence - a 24% increase on 2024 and, significantly, a 75% increase on 2021.

However the report noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on both the type and volume of crime recorded between March 2020 and the lifting of final legal restrictions in April 2022.

More broadly, sexual crime increased sharply, rising 10% to 16,029 offences, also 10% above 2021 levels.

Crimes of dishonesty increased 2% to 113,729.

Damage and reckless behaviour offences fell 3%, driven by a 5% fall in vandalism, though fire‑raising rose 12%.

Crimes against society increased 6% to 66,428, including a 13% rise in weapons possession (used) and a 10% rise in drug‑supply offences.

Police also recorded 191,153 offences - up 8% - with road‑traffic offences increasing 9% and antisocial behaviour up 7%.

Out of Scotland's 32 local authorities, 27 recorded rising crime levels over the year.