Officials recorded a notable rise in sexual offending across Argyll and Bute in the most recent reporting period, according to statistics published by the Scottish Government. Police logs show 291 sexual offences in 2025/26, a year-on-year increase of 23% and an escalation of more than 122% over the last ten years.
Breakdown of the figures
The data point to several concerning trends within the recorded offences:
- 291 total sexual offences in 2025/26
- Over one third of those incidents were logged as sexual assault
- Offences involving threats to disclose intimate images almost doubled, rising to 15 cases
- There was one recorded offence linked to prostitution in the latest year, bringing the total of such records since 2016 to three
- Reported incidents categorised as domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 numbered 52 in 2025/26
| Measure | 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Total sexual offences | 291 |
| Year-on-year change | +23% |
| Decadal change | +122% (since 2016) |
| Image-related offences | 15 |
| Domestic abuse (DA Act 2018) | 52 |
Political and policing response
Jackie Baillie, the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Helensburgh and Lomond, described the figures as "shameful" and urged ministers to bolster frontline policing, warning that cuts had left services strained.
“Violence against women and sexual and domestic violence have risen in Scotland. These shameful figures provide damning proof that Scotland has become less safe on the SNP’s watch.”
Ms Baillie called for increased community policing, improvements to court capacity and action on prisons, stating these areas were central to addressing the rise.
The Scottish Government acknowledged concern at the increases while noting that recorded crime overall remains substantially lower than its peak in the early 1990s. A ministerial spokesperson said the government would examine targeted measures to tackle specific crime types and to reinforce public confidence in the justice system.
“While for the vast majority, Scotland is a safe place to live with recorded crime down almost half from its peak in 1991, ministers are concerned by any increase in recorded crime and will consider what more can be done to tackle specific crimes.”
Context and consequences
Officials and politicians face a policy challenge balancing long-term crime reductions with rising reports of sexual and domestic offending in particular areas. The statistics do not distinguish between changes in offending and changes in reporting behaviour; higher numbers can reflect greater willingness to report offences as well as genuine increases in incidents.
For Argyll and Bute, the figures have immediate implications for resource allocation for policing, victim support services and the local court system. Any shift in funding or operational priorities would feed into wider debates in Holyrood about justice policy, police numbers and how to prevent sexual and domestic crimes.
The presumption of innocence remains central: the published figures relate to recorded allegations and reported offences, not to proven convictions. Police Scotland and prosecuting authorities will determine how many of the recorded incidents lead to charges and subsequent court outcomes.
As ministers consider next steps, local representatives continue to press for rapid action to ensure victims receive support and communities feel secure.
