Official ranking places region fourth, with year-on-year rise in crime rate
Dumfries and Galloway has been named the fourth most dangerous area in Scotland in a new analysis drawing on the Scottish Government Data Repository, with an overall rate of 1,184 crimes per 10,000 residents. The round-up, which compares areas by recorded crime per head of population, reports that the region’s latest figures are more than 4% higher than the previous year.
The findings, published at the weekend, place the region behind only Glasgow City, Dundee City and West Dunbartonshire in the national ranking. The report highlights notable increases locally in several categories, including road traffic offences (6,953 incidents), crimes of dishonesty (2,262) and crimes against society (2,111).
“That blend brings with it an inflated crime rate; the region sits fourth on our rankings of the most dangerous areas in Scotland, with an overall crime rate of 1,184 crimes per 10,000 residents.”
How Dumfries and Galloway compares
According to the analysis, Scotland’s highest overall crime rates per 10,000 residents were recorded in the following areas:
| Rank | Area | Overall crime rate (per 10,000 residents) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow City | 1,431 |
| 2 | Dundee City | 1,337 |
| 3 | West Dunbartonshire | 1,247 |
| 4 | Dumfries and Galloway | 1,184 |
The wider top 15 list, as set out by the report, continues: City of Edinburgh; Aberdeen City; North Lanarkshire; North Ayrshire; Renfrewshire; East Ayrshire; Inverclyde; Fife; Falkirk; South Lanarkshire; and Argyll and Bute.
What is driving the local picture
While the report does not break down trends beyond headline categories, it does single out growth in road traffic offences and crimes of dishonesty, as well as crimes against society in Dumfries and Galloway. These classifications, used in official statistics, cover a range of behaviours — from motoring offences to theft and offences that protect the public interest — and are commonly used to track pressures on policing and justice services.
The figures reflect a per-capita measure, meaning the rate is adjusted for population size rather than presented as raw totals. That approach provides a like-for-like comparison across areas of different scale, from rural districts to Scotland’s largest cities. The report notes the region’s mix of “chocolate box villages” and larger towns such as Dumfries and Stranraer as part of the local context.
Implications for councils and police
Rankings of this kind are closely watched by local authorities and Police Scotland when planning prevention, enforcement and community safety initiatives. A year-on-year rise of more than 4% in the overall rate will likely sharpen focus on the drivers behind the increase, particularly in categories flagged by the analysis.
In practical terms, residents will expect clear communication about local priorities — from tackling acquisitive crime and supporting victims, to road safety work across the region’s rural and trunk routes. The data will also inform how partnership bodies, including community planning groups and health and social care teams, coordinate efforts where criminality impacts wellbeing, vulnerability or public confidence.
What the figures say — and what they don’t
Although the ranking sets Dumfries and Galloway within a national picture, it is a snapshot based on the latest annual dataset used by the report. Per-capita comparisons can be influenced by changes in reporting behaviour, targeted enforcement activity and local demographics. The analysis does not provide a breakdown by town or neighbourhood, and it does not include qualitative assessment of underlying causes.
For residents and businesses, the headline remains that the area’s overall rate stands at 1,184 per 10,000 people, with notable pressures in specific offence groups. Further detail is expected in forthcoming official statistical releases and local performance reports, which typically disaggregate trends and set out planned actions.
Full list of ‘most dangerous’ areas cited
- 1. Glasgow City
- 2. Dundee City
- 3. West Dunbartonshire
- 4. Dumfries and Galloway
- 5. City of Edinburgh
- 6. Aberdeen City
- 7. North Lanarkshire
- 8. North Ayrshire
- 9. Renfrewshire
- 10. East Ayrshire
- 11. Inverclyde
- 12. Fife
- 13. Falkirk
- 14. South Lanarkshire
- 15. Argyll and Bute
InfoRadar will monitor responses from local partners and publish any updates on prevention work, enforcement activity and support services as they are confirmed.
