Homicides in Scotland fall to 50-year low

The number of people who were murdered or killed in Scotland last year was the lowest level since records began almost 50 years ago, new figures show.

Statistics released by the Scottish government showed 45 people were the victims of homicide in 2024-25, 12 fewer than the previous year.

Over the past 20 years the number of homicide victims has more than halved from 96 in 2005/6.

All 45 homicides recorded last year were solved, with the figures showing 30 men and 15 women died in such incidents.

For men, almost two-thirds (63%) of victims - 19 people - were killed by an acquaintance.

Almost half (47%) of female victims died at the hands of a partner or ex-partner, with this the case for seven of the 15 women killed in 2024-25.

The most common method of killing was with a sharp instrument, such as a knife, broken bottle, sword, sharpened screwdriver or any other pointed or edged weapon.

These were used in 62% of homicide cases in 2024-25, resulting in 28 deaths.

Age of victims

Over the past 20 years, the largest fall in homicide victims has been among young people aged 16 to 24.

There was 110 victims in this age group between 2005/6 and 2009/10.

But this number fell to 31 victims across the past five years.

The average age of a homicide victim in 2024-25 was 38, two years higher than in 2023-24.

Locations of homicides

The figures showed that Glasgow City had the most homicides in 2024-25, with 13.

This means 29% of homicides took place in the city despite only 12% of the population living there.

In 2024/25, 55 people were accused of homicide of which 91% were male and 9% were female.

The number of people accused of homicide hit the lowest it has been since records began in 1976.