How many cases of animal cruelty have been reported to the police in each of the last 10 years, and, of these cases, how many resulted in a…

There is no single crime of animal cruelty and such crimes are identified differently in the annual National Statistics publications on Recorded Crime in Scotland and Criminal Proceedings in Scotland . These publications are based on separate and unlinked data sets and cannot be considered as proportions of each other.
Recorded Crime in Scotland is based on a count of crimes reported to Police Scotland. The year is based on when any crime(s) were reported to police. Animal cruelty offences are only identifiable at crime level and the most recent publication covers the 2022-23 financial year.
Criminal Proceedings in Scotland is based on a count of people proceeded against in court. A person may be proceeded against for more than one crime and multiple people may be proceeded against for the same crime. Only the main charge is counted in the statistics. The main charge is the one that conveys the most severe penalty and the year is based on the date when proceedings concluded in court. This can be in a later year than when any crime(s) were reported to Police Scotland. Animal cruelty offences are identified at charge level and the most recent publication covers the 2021-22 financial year.
Both data sets cover the animal cruelty crimes of:Cruelty to animals (ex dogs) inc killing and maiming cattleCruelty to dogsCruelty to wild animalsHunting with dogs
Note: Criminal proceedings data does not distinguish between these first two crimes and they are presented as a single total in the prosecuted and convicted following tables.
Criminal proceedings additionally covers parts of the following crimes:Animals, offences involving (ex dogs, birds elswhr classfd) – specifically where the main charge fell under Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 Section 23(1)(A), 23(2), 23(4) or 24Pet and kept animals– specifically where the main charge fell under Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 Section 20(1)(A)Sea fisheries offences– specifically where the main charge fell under Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 Section 107
Table: Crimes of animal cruelty reported to Police Scotland, by crime type, 2012-13 to 2022-23
Crime
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Cruelty to animals (ex dogs) inc killing and maiming cattle
34
28
26
22
32
23
23
29
34
52
43
Cruelty to dogs
44
48
59
81
52
59
78
98
115
117
104
Cruelty to wild animals
27
22
38
23
24
32
31
32
45
36
24
Hunting with dogs
32
29
20
42
22
41
22
40
44
13
14
Total
137
127
143
168
130
155
154
199
238
218
185
Table: People prosecuted in Scottish courts where the main charge is animal cruelty, by crime type, 2012-13 to 2021-22
Crime
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21 1
2021-22 1
Animals, offences involving (ex dogs, birds elswhr classfd)
18
18
30
9
16
6
4
17
5
10
Cruelty to animals (ex dogs) inc killing and maiming cattle and Cruelty to dogs
119
103
121
92
57
75
74
64
35
62
Cruelty to wild animals
9
4
3
6
2
5
.
3
.
1
Hunting with dogs
11
9
3
5
8
4
6
.
1
8
Pet and kept animals
.
1
.
.
1
.
.
.
.
.
Sea fisheries offences
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1
Total
157
135
157
112
84
90
84
84
41
82
1. Data for 2020-21 and 2021-22 were affected by the pandemic and subsequent court closures, reduced court capacities and delayed cases where key participants tested positive for COVID-19. Volumes for these years should be treated with caution and not considered indicative of longer term trends.
Table: People convicted in Scottish courts where the main charge is animal cruelty, by crime type, 2012-13 to 2021-22
Crime
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21 1
2021-22 1
Animals, offences involving (ex dogs, birds elswhr classfd)
14
16
23
8
14
5
4
16
4
8
Cruelty to animals (ex dogs) inc killing and maiming catt