Rape and attempted rape cases increase by 15% in Scotland
The number of rape and attempted rape cases increased by 15 per cent in Scotland last year.
Latest figures from Scotland’s Chief Statistician show there were 3,004 reports – up from 2,609 the previous year.
This was a 21 per cent from the year ending June 2021 – from 2,477 to 3,004 crimes.
The Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics for the year ending June 2025 also showed a five per cent increase in sexual crimes compared with the year ending June 2024 – up from 14,417 to 15,129 crimes – and nine per cent higher compared with the year ending June 2021, increasing from 13,939 to 15,129 crimes.
Police Scotland recorded 303,343 crimes in the year ending June 2025. This was one per cent higher than the 300,078 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2024, and one per cent higher than the 300,747 crimes in the year ending June 2021.
However, Scotland’s Chief said it should be noted that the Covid-19 pandemic, and associated measures to limit social contact, 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.
Non-sexual crimes of violence were one per cent higher compared with the year ending June 2024, increasing from 71,394 to 71,915 crimes, and 12 per cent higher compared to the year ending June 2021 – increasing from 64,080 to 71,915 crimes.
Crimes of dishonesty were less than one per cent higher compared with the previous year, increasing from 112,384 to 112,421, and 26 per cent higher compared with the year ending June 2021 – up from 89,259 to 112,421 crimes.
There were 38,925 cases of damage and reckless behaviour, down by three per cent compared with the year ending June 2024 (40,285 crimes), and 12 per cent lower than the year ending June 2021 (from 44,293 to 38,925 crimes).
Crimes against society were five per cent higher compared with the year ending June 2024 ( from 61,643 to 64,953 crimes), but six per cent lower than the year ending June 2021 (down from 69,030 to 64,953 crimes).
The number of offences recorded by Police Scotland in the year ending June 2025 was 184,331. This is four per cent higher than the 177,849 offences recorded in the year ending June 2024, but three per cent lower than the 189,677 offences recorded in the year ending June 2021.