Recorded crime in Scotland has increased over the past year, with domestic abuse cases up by 22% and shoplifting incidents rising by 34%, according to Police Scotland. Official statistics indicate that 300,070 crimes were recorded in the year leading up to June 2024, marking a 3% increase from the previous year.

 Crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 rose from 1,784 to 2,169, and shoplifting cases surged from 30,202 to 40,554, sparking calls for action. Non-sexual violent crimes, including murder and culpable homicide, increased by 2%, with murder and culpable homicide rising 6%, from 54 to 57 incidents. The overall category of violent crime, which also includes robbery, saw a 16% increase to 1,938 recorded crimes.

Despite a 3% decline in recorded sexual crimes to 14,417, incidents of rape and attempted rape rose by 2% to 2,609. Sexual assaults recorded by the police decreased by 5% to 4,959.

The total number of offences recorded by Police Scotland also rose by 3% year-on-year to 177,849. Hate aggravated conduct saw an 11% increase to 1,702 offences, and mobile phone driving offences jumped 25% to 3,761. In contrast, recorded offences for speeding decreased by 23% to 14,306, and drunkenness and disorderly conduct fell by 29% to 2,388.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay described the rise in crime as “alarming” but “unsurprising,” attributing it to low officer numbers. He highlighted a 17-year low in officer numbers, blaming it on decisions by successive SNP justice ministers in Edinburgh. He also emphasized the need for a proposed new law to create a domestic abuse register, as suggested by his colleague Pam Gosal.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, expressed concern over the 33% rise in shoplifting, despite increased spending by retailers on crime prevention. He noted that shoplifters are becoming “bolder and more aggressive” and urged authorities to prioritize crimes against retailers to enhance shop safety.

A Scottish Government spokesperson stated that Scotland remains a safe place to live, with recorded crime at one of the lowest levels since 1974 and down 40% since 2006-07. The spokesperson acknowledged the concern over the rise in specific crime areas but noted that these statistics help identify evolving crime trends and inform future policing priorities. The government is providing a record £1.55 billion in police funding this year, an increase of £92.7 million, ensuring Scotland has more police officers per capita than England and Wales.