ABSTRACT
This chapter will delve into previous and current homicide trends in Scotland, describing how this crime has changed over time. This chapter will also outline the historical background to homicide in Scotland, covering the change from ‘the murder capital of the Europe’ to one of the countries with the lowest homicide rates in Europe. The Scottish homicide trends will be situated in an international context in this chapter by comparing the Scottish trends in homicide with international homicide trends, including homicide trends in England and Wales. This will also include an overview of the policy changes in Scotland that happened from the 1990s onwards. This chapter will put the forthcoming analysis in context as well as situate the Scottish homicide trends in an international context.
