Sexual crime in Scotland has risen sharply over the past year, with new official figures showing an 11% increase in recorded rape and attempted rape and a steep jump in online sexual offending.

The latest Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletin , covering the year to September 2025, reports that police logged 15,704 sexual crimes, up 7% on the previous year and 12% higher than 2021.

The category includes both contact sexual offences and a growing volume of digital and image-based crimes.

Rape and attempted rape rose from 2,746 to 3,043 cases, an increase of 297 offences.

Sexual assault also rose, up 4% to 5,202 cases.

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Offences involving indecent images of children increased by 24% to 936, while crimes involving the threatening or disclosure of intimate images — so-called reve

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