Scotland's sex crimes toll rockets as cops receive eight rape reports every single day
The shameful figures show almost 15,000 sickening incidents were logged by cops in just 12 months
SHOCK STATS Scotland's sex crimes toll rockets as cops receive eight rape reports every single day
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SEX crimes in Scotland have rocketed with a shocking eight rape incidents reported every day, new shock statistics reveal.
The shameful figures show almost 15,000 sickening incidents were logged by cops in just 12 months - the second highest level on record since 1971.
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Police Scotland investigated a rising number of sex crimes in the last year.
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Scots Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr hit out at the 'shocking' rise in sex crimes.
Credit: Alamy
Rape and attempted rape surged by 15% in the past year from 2,522 to 2,897 in 2024-25 - representing a 60% rise over the last decade.
Another disturbing trend is a rise in crimes of indecent photos of children - up 11% from 747 to 828.
Other alarming increases noted in the Scottish Government report include youth violence, weapons in schools and shoplifting.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr MSP said: 'These shocking rises are the inevitable consequence of the SNP's savage and sustained cuts to frontline policing.
'Whether it's sexual crimes, other violent offences, shoplifting or domestic abuse, the trend is up, and Scotland's streets are becoming less safe.
'Worse still, the SNP's use of diversion of prosecution orders often means criminals are not being properly punished – and therefore not deterred.
'The increase in weapons being carried by school pupils exposes the epidemic of violence in Scotland's schools – and the woeful inadequacy of nationalist ministers' response to it.
'The buck stops with the SNP, who have undermined our police and left our justice system at breaking point.
'No wonder law-abiding Scots are increasingly fearful of being crime victims.'
The Recorded Crime in Scotland 2024-25 bulletin shows that total crime remains at similar levels to 2023-24.
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However, overall sex crimes rose by 3% from 14,484 in 2023-24 to 14,892 in the latest annual tally.
Elsewhere the document reveals shoplifting shot up by 16% from 38,674 to 44,730 in the past year and 57% in the past 10 years.
There was a 50% increase in handling and using an offensive weapon within Scotland's prison system from 72 cases to 108.
And schools were also blighted by weapon-carrying offences with 152 crimes committed - an increase of 11%.
There was a 26% increase in domestic abuse crimes in the past year, 20 serious assaults on police officers and 12 serious assaults on emergency workers in the past year.
Supplying drugs increased by 14% in the past year from 4,223 to 4,802 crimes.
More positively, levels of non-sexual crimes of violence dipped slightly over the year and continue to be 23% lower than in 2006-07.
Serious assault and attempted murder now at their lowest level since 1977.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance insisted the figures show 'Scotland continues to be safe place to live'.
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The new report also homes in on the disturbing rise in retail crime.
Credit: Alamy
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The stats show a worrying number of weapons offences in Scotland's schools.
Credit: Alamy
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Justice Secretary Angela Constance admitted 'concern' over the rise in sex crimes.
Credit: Alamy
She added: 'Violent crime is down significantly in the past 20 years, with serious assaults and homicide levels at record lows.
"However, we cannot afford to be complacent and I have been consistently clear that any instance of violence is one too many.
"That is why we are taking a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, with more than £6 million funding invested over the past three years.
'I am concerned these figures also show a rise in reported sexual crimes.
"Multiple factors will lie behind this and our action to tackle sexual offending includes increasing confidence in the justice system so more victims come forward, improving support for victims and modernising the law on sexual offences."
She pointed to a £3 million budget boost for Police Scotland to work with the retail sector and said the Scottish Government had invested £4.2 billion across the justice system including a record £1.64 billion for policing – an increase of £70 million on 2024-25.
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