Key Insights - Sexual Crime

Rape is at the highest level of recording and accounts for almost one fifth of all reported sexual crimes.

70% of all rapes were committed against females over the age of 16 years.
'Recent’ rapes continue to account for the largest proportion of all rapes.
Over half of rape crimes have a domestic element recorded.

In Scotland, a total of 2,056 crimes of rape have been reported between 01 April 2024 – 31 December 2024 which is an increase of 286 crimes compared to the previous year.

Rape of a female over 16 accounts for 70.2% of all rape and is the only classification within rape to have a year-on-year increase. Rape of a female over 16 has increased from 1,018 crimes in 2019/20 to 1,444 crimes in 2024/25, an increase of 41.8%.

There have been 61 crimes of rape reported where the victim is a male over 16 recorded in 2024/25. This is the highest volume of crimes recorded for this crime classification.

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

There were 302 rapes of children aged 15 and under between 01 April 2024 – 31 December 2024.  This accounts for 14.7% of all reported rapes during that period. 

Children and young people (under 16) are potentially one of the most vulnerable communities that Police Scotland serve. Any connection to an act of violence of sexual harm is traumatic for any child or young person which is why we are committed to dealing with these incidents in the most effective and trauma informed way possible. 

In 2019 the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) for joint investigative interviews was introduced, which is a trauma informed, best practice model which seeks to secure best evidence for court processes, and to inform assessment of risk to the child and other children. 

Children and young people are interviewed by officers and social workers that have the specialist training and knowledge for forensic interviewing of children and who can contribute to the ongoing support and aftercare of the child.  

The SCIM joint investigative interviews also support the ‘Barnahus’ or ‘Bairns’ hoose’ quality standards currently being rolled out across Scotland. Bairns’ hoose is Scotland’s approach to the Icelandic ‘Barnahus’ (Children’s house offering a holistic child centred support to those who have been victims or witnesses to abuse of all kinds). 

Operational work began on 11 Bairns’ hoose sites across Scotland in January 2025.  The model connects services and Police Scotland, along with local partnerships, are building their Bairns’ hoose’s to support our commitment to tacking rape and sexual crime in the best way for our children.

SCD NPP have recently reviewed and strengthened training to probationers in terms of child exploitation and child sexual exploitation. To ensure a focus and recognition of this specific type of sexual abuse at an early stage. 

DOMESTIC ABUSE

Rapes reported where the perpetrator is the partner or ex-partner of the victim account for over 50% of all rapes reported (1,111 cases).
 
The response to sexual crime within the context of domestic abuse is the same as to non-domestic sexual crime.  It involves application of the same tactics and processes, the appointment of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and the training for, e.g. Sexual Offences Liaison Officers (SOLO) is the same. There is no distinction made in terms of our response to victims.

Where rape or any other serious sexual crime has occurred in the context of domestic abuse, it is investigated as part of the entire course of conduct. The nature of domestic abuse investigations, often identifying multiple complainers, frequently results in very effective application of the Moorov Doctrine (a stated case where a series of crimes committed were closely linked by crime, character and circumstances as to constitute a course of conduct by an accused), with notable increases in conviction.        

However, due to Scots Law and the need for corroboration, when there is a single complainer of rape, either in a domestic context or otherwise, this can be challenging to evidence. There are two recent stated cases in Scotland whereby Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have successfully utilised Domestic Abuse Scotland Act (DASA) legislation to support a complainer’s report of serious sexual violence, where the rapes would otherwise be uncorroborated, and achieved a conviction. (HMA v Findlay & HMA v Kirkwood). This demonstrates the effectiveness of including the investigation of serious sexual abuse within the parameters of the broader domestic abuse investigation.