From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: March 2026 published today:
Non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police increased by 5%, from 70,635 in the year ending December 2024 to 74,384 in the year ending December 2025. Common assault (up 5%) made up the clear majority (83%) of all non-sexual crimes of violence recorded in the year ending September 2025. The SCJS showed that in 2023-24 the volume of violent crime increased by 73% since 2021-22. However, this is still 27% lower than 2008-09 and does not show a statistically significant change from 2019-20. It also showed that an estimated 44% of violent crime in 2023-24 was reported to the police.
Imagine if violent crime in Scotland has risen by 42% since 2008-09, who’d be blamed in the media? John Swinney?
It’s the opposite so who gets the credit in the media? Not John Swinney. It’s just ignored.
In England & Wales?
1.1 million.
After all these years, I often feel I should give you this as homework – Is violent crime per head of population more common or less common in Scotland?
70 635 incidents in Scotland so with 11 times the population in England & Wales, around 780 000.
It was 1.1 million, 320 000, 29% more.
So, around 30 000 fewer crimes in Scotland after 20 years of no Con or Labour right-wing cost-cutting governments
What is the one objective thing the SNP Government has done to explain this?
England and Wales (combined): 241 FTE police officers per 100,000 resident population (as at 31 March 2025).
Scotland: approximately 295–300 FTE police officers per 100,000 population (based on 2024–2025 data; one source cites ~298). Scotland consistently maintains a higher ratio than England and Wales.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/police-officer-quarterly-strength-statistics-30-june-2025/
Scotland has 22.4% more police officers per head of population. That’s massive.
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