The Herald has reported that there has been a dramatic decline in the number of murder cases in Scotland. However, there has been in increase in the number of reported rapes. There were 59 killings in 2017/18 in Scotland and this is believed to be a 40 year low. In 2004 this number was as high as 137 deaths per year.

However, studies have found the number of rapes reports have increased by 22% in recent years, with 2/5 of these reports being historical cases. Mr John Carnochan, a retired chief superintendent of Police Scotland, said: “We still have to look at why 59 people died because that is still a high number.” However, he states that these figures are reliable. He also hinted to the changing attitudes in relation to reporting rapes and speaking about rape and believes this has a great deal to do with more rapes being reported rather than more rapes being carried out.