By Gemma Fraser
Head of content
Violent crime in Scotland is “spiralling out of control” as new figures reveal an increase in common assault, attempted murder, homicides, weapon offences and domestic abuse.
A Police Scotland report “paints a bleak picture of the state of Scotland’s justice system”, while an increase in people carrying weapons is sparking fear in communities, it has been warned.
Police chiefs and the Scottish Government argue that Scotland continues to be a safe place to live, and insist that tackling violence remains a priority.
Yet the force’s latest quarterly policing performance report, from April to September last year, showed overall violent crime had increased, “predominantly driven” by higher numbers of common assaults, which account for 92.5 per cent of all violent crime.
Weapons offences continue to increase, with 6,369 crimes recorded for the year to date (an increase of 6.5 per cent from the previous year) and 11,644 recorded in the rolling 12-month period – up 7.2 per cent.
“The biggest challenge we have is increasing carrying of weapons,” said Will Linden, deputy head of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU).
“It’s very similar to what we saw in the early stages of the VRU. We had to demystify the carrying of weapons and put out the message that most young people don’t carry weapons, and most young people don’t get involved in violence. The problem of young people carrying weapons is mainly out of fear.
“Communities are still scared, communities are fearful, communities are worried. That’s not necessarily because there’s lots more violence. There’s less violence now than there was 10 or 15 years ago, but it doesn’t feel like that to communities.”
Seventeen murders were recorded during the second quarter of 2025/26, bringing the year-to-date homicide total up to 26, representing an increase from the previous year.
There were 172 attempted murders recorded during the period – the highest number in recent years. The 36 attempted murders recorded in July last year was the highest number in a single month in recent years.
Serious assaults continue to be at their lowest level in recent years, with 1,387 crimes recorded so far, according to last month’s report, representing a decrease of 12.4 per cent.
However, common assaults continue to increase across most police divisions, while nationally there was a 9.6 per cent increase in domestic-related common assaults compared to the same period the previous year.
Scottish Conservative spokesperson for community safety, Sharon Dowey, said the SNP government’s “relentless weakening of Scotland’s justice system is resulting in violent crime spiralling out of control”.
While sentencing guidelines in Scotland are issued by The Scottish Sentencing Council, which is independent to government, she added: “[Ministers’] soft-touch approach is putting public safety at risk and young people know they won’t be properly punished due to the SNP’s weak sentencing guidelines.
“SNP cuts also mean officer numbers are at woefully low levels meaning our police simply do not have the resources to keep communities safe and investigate every crime.”
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill added: “These figures are very concerning and paint a bleak picture of the state of Scotland’s justice system which has been hollowed out as a result of years of SNP underfunding.
“The SNP’s relentless weakening of Scotland’s justice system is resulting in violent crime spiralling out of control”
Scottish Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey
“There are now fewer police officers than there were when Police Scotland was first established in 2013, with many now tied up in A&E departments and courtrooms, when they could be out on our streets.
“During that time, almost 150 police stations have closed and in the last two years alone, 22 stations have had their holding cells shuttered.”
However, Police Scotland stressed that the force is committed to tackling all types of violence.
Deputy Chief Constable Bex Smith said: “Scotland is a safe place to live and work, and officers and staff work tirelessly every day to tackle crime and protect the most vulnerable.
“We care deeply about violence and sexual crime and how it affects the communities we serve. Our officers and staff work tirelessly every day to tackle crime and protect the most vulnerable.
“Significant activity is being undertaken with partners to deliver early intervention, particularly for children and young people, to safeguard and prevent future violence.
“My hope is that increased reporting indicates increased confidence in victims coming forward.”
She added that the force’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy has a focus on a ‘trauma-informed approach’ from first contact.
“The Chief Constable has been clear that urgent decisions are needed to address threat, harm, and vulnerability. We must focus on strengthening and modernising our frontline so our people are best equipped to prevent crime,” she said.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance told 1919: “Scotland continues to be a safe place to live, with recorded crime falling by half since 1991.
“This comes on the back of the flagship Scottish crime and justice survey carried out earlier this year, which also showed people feel safer in their communities.
“Violent crime is down significantly over the past 20 years. Homicide levels are at record lows with serious assaults at near record lows.
“However, we cannot afford to be complacent and we 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 and reduce violence, with more than £6 million in funding invested over the past three years.”