LibDems say the scale of the challenge facing police officers and our wider justice system is huge
by Bill Heaney
Scottish Labour has demanded action as crime levels rise sharply and sexual crimes hit a record high.
Figures published today show that recorded crime in Scotland rose by 5 per cent between 2024-25 and 2025-26 to the highest level in over a decade.
Non-sexual violent crimes rose more sharply, increasing by 6 per cent, and sexual crimes rose by an appalling 10 per cent.
The number of recorded sexual crimes is now at its highest point since records began.
Domestic abuse crimes rose by a staggering 23 per cent over the year to the highest point since the 2018 Act came into force.
Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill, right, said: “These shameful figures show Scotland is becoming less safe on the SNP’s watch.
“Violence against women is reaching a crisis point as sexual violence and domestic violence rise again.
“More must be done to protect women and girls and to make our communities safe.
“We need to end the SNP’s soft touch approach to justice, boost visible community policing, get our courts back on track, and deal with the chaos in the prisons.
“Right across the board, we need to tackle the root causes of rising levels of violence and misogyny.”
Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26:
- Crime up by 5% from 299,111 to 315,357. This is the highest level since 2014-15.
- Non-sexual crimes of violence increased by 6%, from 71,170 to 75,601.
- Sexual crimes increased by 10%, from 14,892 to 16,430. These crimes are now at the highest level seen since 1971, the first year for which comparable groups are available.
- Domestic abuse increased by 23% over the last year, from 2,573 to 3,170.
- Crimes of dishonesty increased by 6%, from 110,913 to 118,040. This is the highest level since 2014-15.
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Yi-pei Chou Turvey MSP has today said the SNP must urgently step up support for Scotland’s justice system as new figures revealed that sexual crime is at its highest level since 1971.
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Yi-pei Chou Turvey MSP said: “The scale of the challenge facing police officers and our wider justice system is huge.
“It is particularly concerning that the level of sexual violence is now at a record high.
“While some of this may be down to a welcome increase in reporting, much more is needed to tackle the prevalence of these crimes.
“That’s why I want to see the SNP government finally acting on the raft of measures that Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out to tackle violence against women and girls.
“Ministers must also step up efforts to bring down overcrowding in prisons- that’s how we successfully rehabilitate people and cut reoffending. This should go hand in hand with supporting frontline officers, making sure they have the tools, time, and expertise to properly investigate these crimes.”