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From the Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: February 2026, published yesterday:

Fall in emergency hospital admissions due to assault since 2015-16. In 2024-25, there were 1,554 emergency hospital admissions due to assault, including 376 due to assault with a sharp object. These were, respectively, 36% and 33% lower than in 2015-16.

^{https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-february-2026/pages/statistics-on-community-safety/}

What might explain this?

First, Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level 6 years ago – From Knife crime statistics: FOI release, published today, we see that there were 49 homicides by knife in Scotland in 2017/2018 and that there has been a steady and significant fall to 25, in 2022/2023, the most recent data.¹

Second, ‘teens’ are dying in ever fewer numbers. The above victim was 15 years old. There are no data for 13-19 year-olds but there is typically only 1 homicide victim in the 5-15 age range per year and the greatest reduction has been amongst victims aged 16-24. In the five year period from 2004-05 to 2008-09, there were 125 victims in this age range. This dropped to 29 across the latest five years period from 2019-20 to 2023-24.²

Third, Glasgow – Glasgow City has witnessed a relatively larger fall in homicides than Scotland as a whole in the last 20 years. Over the latest five year period from 2019-20 to 2023-24, there have been 47 homicides in Glasgow, a 71% reduction compared to 162 for the five year period from 2004-05 to 2008-09. This compares to a 49% reduction in Scotland as a whole between these periods.²

Fourth knife possession – there is no epidemic (here) –

Chained to a Zombie Nation with 50* times more of these

BBC not reporting that knife possession in UK schools is 14 times higher per head of population than in Scottish ones

Finally, England and Wales – 94% increase in Police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the last 10 years. 55,008 Police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.³ 

Sources:

1. https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400427434/
2. https://www.gov.scot/publications/homicide-scotland-2023-24/pages/main-findings/
3. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:

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Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04  Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON