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A crime is offence against the law of the land. Over time, the law changes as the Scottish and UK parliaments pass new legislation or laws.

For example, it was not a crime to smoke in a car with someone aged under 18 years before 2016, but the Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act made this illegal from 2016.

In Scotland and the UK, laws are made by politicians who are elected democratically. As individuals, we may not agree with the law but regular elections allow citizens to change the people who represent them and thereby bring about changes within the law.

If someone is accused of a crime in Scotland, they have the right to defend themselves in a court of law. Importantly, anyone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty after a trial in a criminal court.

For those who are found guilty after trial, punishment traditionally reflects the seriousness of the crime. The most serious crimes are those which involve violence and/or loss of life.