Rape reports up 15% in single year, figures show

The number of reported rapes and attempted rapes in Scotland grew by 15% in one year, figures show.

Statistics released by the Scottish Government on Tuesday show there were 2,609 reports in the year up to June 2024.

In the following year, the figure rose to 3,004 – a 15% jump.

Since 2021, the number of attack reports has increased by 21%.

The total number of sexual offences grew by 5% in the most recent year, according to the figures.

In the year up to 2024, the number of sexual offences was 14,417, compared with 15,129 the following year.

Elsewhere, 2,169 reports were made under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act in the year up to June 2024, rising by 26% to 2,742 the following year.

Since 2021, the number of domestic violence reports increased by 63%, from 1,682.

The total number of non-sexual violent crimes increased by 12% since 2021, according to the statistics.

Reports of shoplifting offences also increased by 17% in the most recent year, rising from 40,554 to 47,381.

Responding to the figures, the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) called for action, with director David Lonsdale urging the Government to continue its funding for a £3 million taskforce aimed at reducing retail crime.