Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) for year 2024-25 reveal significant reductions in crime rates in past 15 years.
The latest results of the SCJS shows that people feel safer in their communities in Scotland, and provides a range of statistics to show that crime has fallen significantly.
Photo by Rainer Bleek / Unsplash
The national survey of almost 5,000 people across Scotland provides an opportunity for people to share their experiences and perceptions of crime, including incidents that have not been reported to police. This latest publication includes the following statistics on how crime has fallen since 2008-09:
- 42% reduction in the total volume of property and violent crime, including incidents not reported to police
- 37% reduction in violent crime
- 43% reduction in property crime
What’s more, the proportion of adults who feel safe walking alone in their local area after dark has risen over the same period from 66% to 76%, while the proportion of adults experiencing violent crime is down from 4.1% to to 2.5%, and adults experiencing property crime down from 18.0% to 9.4%.
Participants in the survey were asked about their experiences of violent crime, property crime, fraud and computer misuse. Levels of property and violent crime are lower than in 2008-09 but levels for all SCJS crime, which now includes fraud and computer misuse, is at a similar level to 2023-24.
Roughly half of the crimes covered by the survey in 2024-25 involved fraud and computer misuse. This is similar to the figure in 2023-24, the first year that the SCJS included this type of crime.
In addition, a majority of adults were confident in the ability and effectiveness of local police in areas covered in the survey, such as dealing with incidents as they occur and solving crime.
Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, says: ‘This flagship national survey shows property crime and violent crime 42% lower than in 2008-09 and people feeling safer in their local communities. This is consistent with other official data showing recorded crime at one of its lowest levels since 1974, with serious assaults and homicides at record lows.
‘While more than 97% of people do not experience any crime, I am acutely aware of the impact on the very small proportion who fall victim to violent crime. We have sustained investment in measures to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, including youth violence, with more than £6 million of Scottish Government funding over the past three years, on top of our record funding of more than £1.7bn for policing over the next year.
‘The long-term fall in crime is testimony to the efforts of police, justice and community safety partners and this Government’s investment in the criminal justice system. However, the survey does highlight the need for continued action. I am particularly concerned about the higher proportion of violent crimes committed in the workplace and the increase in the proportion of violent incidents involving a child perpetrator. Reported levels of fraud and computer misuse also show the need for continued focus in this area.’
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