How many cases of sextortion have been recorded by Police Scotland in each year since 2017.

The National Statistics on recorded crime do not include a specific code for crimes of ‘sextortion’ (i.e. extortion involving the threat of sharing sexual information about the victim). There are however two types of crime that include activity that could be considered to constitute ‘sextortion’.
Table 1 shows the estimated volume of threats and extortion committed online, from 2019-20 to 2022-23. This is based on an annual review of crime records (commenced in 2019-20) which aims to estimate how many cyber-crimes are recorded in Scotland. It should be noted the figures below are based on a sample of police records (rather than all police records), so should be seen as providing a broad estimate of the volume of this type of crime, rather than an exact count.
Whilst not all online threats and extortion will necessarily have a ‘sextortion’ based element, it is very likely a high proportion (and certainly the majority) of the cases shown below do. Where ‘sextortion’ related crimes are recorded under this heading, it will be where the perpetrator has made demands for money or other valuables.
Table 1
- Estimated volume of threats and extortion committed online: 2019-20 to 2022-23
Estimated volume committed online
Crime type
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Threats and extortion
290
730
1,260
1,830
Source: Recorded Crime National Statistics, Police recorded cyber-crime in Scotland
The second type of crime in the National Statistics that may also be considered to show an element of ‘sextortion’ is Threatening to disclose an intimate image. Table 2 below shows the number of these crimes recorded since the associated Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act was implemented on 3 July 2017. Where a crime of Threatening to disclose an intimate image is recorded, the motive is something other than financial gain, for example a demand of a physical sexual nature may be made, or some other attempt to exert control over the victim.
Table 2 – Count of crimes of Threatening to disclose an intimate image: 2017-18 to 2022-23
Crime type
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Threatening to disclose an intimate image
193
255
275
337
382
302
Source: Recorded Crime National Statistics, Scotland