Homicide deaths rise by almost a fifth – but are still the fourth lowest ever

Homicide deaths rose by almost a fifth last year – but the overall number of such cases is still the fourth lowest since records began.

A total of 56 people were victims of homicide in 2025-26, Scottish Government figures showed.

While this was up by 19% from 47 such deaths the previous year, the report noted it was “the fourth lowest number of recorded homicide victims since comparable records began in 1976”.

That comes as the number of homicide victims is almost half what it was 20 years ago, with the total falling from 121 in 2006-07.

The greatest reduction over the last two decades has been amongst young people aged between 16 and 24.

While there were 113 victims in this age range over the five years between 2006-07 to 2010-11, this fell to 28 across the latest five years between 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The most recent figures showed almost three quarters (73%) of homicide victims in 2025-26 were male, with 41 deaths over the year, compared to 15 females who were killed.

While the majority (66%) of male victims were killed by an acquaintance, with this the case for 27 killings last year, female victims were most likely to be killed by a partner or former partner, with this the case in 10 of the 15 homicides (67%).

Once again the most common method of killing was with a sharp object, with this used in 29 (52%) of the homicides in 2025-26.

Commenting on the figures, Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “My thoughts are with anyone who has lost a loved one to homicide.

“While the number of victims has fallen by more than half since 2006-07, there is a devastating loss behind every statistic.”

Mr Gray added that the “long-term decline in homicides, especially among young people, reflects sustained efforts to prevent violence, including knife crime, and support people at risk”.

But he continued: “These figures make clear that a majority of the women killed in 2025-26 were killed by a partner or ex-partner.

“This reinforces our absolute determination to do all we can to tackle violence against women and girls by preventing it from happening in the first place, supporting victims, and ensuring that violent men change their behaviour and are held accountable for their actions.”

As part of changes made by the Scottish Government he said a national review process was introduced in April this year “aimed at learning lessons following a death where domestic abuse is known or suspected”.

Reform UK Scottish deputy leader Thomas Kerr said: “These latest homicide figures are further proof that lawlessness is taking hold of communities under the SNP’s soft-touch justice system.

“Instead of cutting police numbers and waving through early release, this Government should be listening to the public and making the tough calls that protect families and communities.”