Crime in Glasgow’s city centre has fallen by 15 per cent, despite claims the area has become a “no-go zone” and dangerous at night. Figures released by Police Scotland under Freedom of Information show the number of crimes committed there dropped from 2,726 in 2024 to 2,302 last year.
Only 578 crimes were recorded in the first four months of this year up to April. The figures cover Union Street, Jamaica Street, St Enoch Square and Argyle Street – known as the Four Corners – said to be the main areas for violence and disorder.
Dispersal zone credited for reduction
The statistics include a range of crimes, from attempted murder and serious assault to motoring offences and theft. The introduction of a “dispersal zone” in March to combat anti-social behaviour is said to have led to the reduction in crime numbers.
The zone allows officers to order groups of two or more people to leave and ban them from returning for 24 hours. Since March, officers have used these powers more than 1,700 times.
Chief Inspector Stephen McManus, local area commander, said: “Our focus remains on ensuring Glasgow city centre is a safe and welcoming place for everyone and we are committed to providing a visible police presence. Our officers carry out routine patrols every day of the year and engage regularly with local residents, businesses and partner agencies.
“We also use every tool at our disposal, including the dispersal zone currently in place, to help address anti-social behaviour and disorder in the city centre. The timeframe for the dispersal zone was extended while we continue to work with partners to address the underlying causes of issues in the city centre and will remain under review.
“We remain committed to ensuring a visible police presence in the area.”
Sex crimes also fall
There was also a drop in the number of sex crimes, from 46 in 2024 and 45 last year, with six recorded so far in the first four months of 2026.
Last week, former Rangers and Scotland star Ally McCoist said he was appalled by the state of Glasgow and will no longer visit. The 63-year-old football pundit made the comments after a BBC documentary showed gangs on bikes openly dealing drugs.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, has claimed many people are now too scared to visit at night. He said: “We are seeing so many areas that people don’t want to visit and see as no-go areas.”
Business and council response
Donald MacLeod, who owns the Cathouse and Garage night spots in the city centre, said the drop in crime numbers was “more than welcome”. Donald, who is also convener of the Glasgow Licensing Forum, added: “The decrease does surprise me given there doesn't seem to be a day goes by when there is some bother in that area. We want Glasgow to have a welcoming and vibrant town centre that is safe and the perception at the moment is that it is not and that has been backed up by other figures.
“The council need to acknowledge that is a problem within the city and a need to make it safer. The fact that a dispersal zone has to be put in place is worrying enough. That should be sending the alarm bells ringing and rung they have done in the last week.”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “The dispersal zone around the Central Station area gives the Police additional powers to address the localised antisocial behaviour caused by a very small minority of people. To support the shared effort to ensure city centre safety, we are recruiting new CCTV staff that will allow for 24/7 monitoring of the city centre from September this year.
“The city centre is an increasingly popular destination with 31.5m visitors welcomed into the city last year. Footfall figures show that almost 70m residents, workers and visitors in total moved through the city centre in 2025.”
