Scottish Government
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Homicide in Scotland, 2015-16
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.
Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published Homicide in Scotland, 2015-16. The publication provides information on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2015-16. The main findings are:
Between 2014-15 and 2015-16, the number of homicide cases recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 8% (5 cases) from 62 to 57. This is the lowest number of recorded homicide cases for a single twelve month period since 1976, the first year for which comparable data are available.
Over the ten year period from 2006-07 to 2015-16, the number of homicide cases in Scotland fell by 52% (62 cases) from 119 to 57.
In 2015-16, 57 victims of homicide were recorded, 8% (5 victims) less than the 62 victims recorded in 2014-15. As at 31 March 2016, only one case of homicide recorded in 2015-16 was unresolved.
In 2015-16, 65 persons were accused of homicide and 86% (56) of them were male (Table 6). Of the 57 victims, 72% (41) were also male.
For each of the last ten years, the most common method of killing was with a sharp instrument. In 2015-16, a sharp instrument was the main method of killing for 51% (29) of homicide victims.
Notes To Editors
- The full statistical publication can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/10/1834
- The term “sharp instrument” includes knives, broken bottles, swords, sharpened screwdrivers and any other pointed or edged weapons.
- Further information on Crime and Justice statistics within Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice
- National statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of National statistics in Scotland can be accessed at:
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About