The SNP’s soft approach to justice is fuelling Scotland’s shoplifting epidemic as teenagers regard it as a low risk/high reward activity.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said high demand at home and abroad for stolen items and cheaper products has made shoplifting an “appealing venture” for the under 25s, including those under 12, which is the age of criminal responsibility.
He said evidence showed that in the last five years there had been an increase in the overall number of under-18s turning to shoplifting.
ACC Mairs said: “The increasing cost of living, driven by fluctuations in market prices and supply chain pressures caused by political instability are all likely drivers, with the resulting high demand, domestically and internationally, for stolen items and cheaper products making shoplifting an appealing venture.
“This could particularly apply to those under the age of criminal responsibility and under 25 who will be aware of potential criminal justice outcomes for shoplifting and see it as a low risk/high reward crime.”
Data shows that in 2023/24 there were 663 youngsters aged 13 named as the “accused” in shoplifting crimes — an increase of 61% compared to 2019/2020.
The ACC also warned organised gangs are “recruiting under 18s to carry out shoplifting offences for them”, which critics say is related to the Scottish Government’s leniency measures such as “diversion from prosecution” and jail sentences only being used “as a last resort” for those under 25.
Sharon Dowey MSP, Scottish Conservative shadow minister for victims and community safety, said the “shocking increase” in shoplifting crimes among young people should make Justice Secretary Angela Constance “hang her head in shame”.
Ms Dowey added: “SNP ministers should be mortified that their soft touch approach to justice has led to a 61% increase in these crimes in just five years.
“But it comes as little surprise that our young people are not deterred from committing these crimes when the Nationalists’ early release scheme has taught that if they do, they will face little to no real consequences.
“The SNP have relentlessly weakened our justice system over the past 17 years and they must now commit to giving our police service the resources it needs to clamp down on these crimes.”
Over the last 10 years – 2013-14 to 2022-23 – the number of shoplifting convictions fell by 54%, according to data on Criminal Proceedings in Scotland published this month.
Hundreds of teenagers were among those avoiding punishment, instead being handed “diversion from prosecution” due to the “presumption that an alternative to prosecution will be in the public interest for the under-18s”.
By September, the number of diversion from prosecution cases undertaken had reached its highest level in the last 10 years — rising by 28% to 3400 in 2023/24, up from 2600 in the previous year, according to Justice Social Work Statistics in Scotland 20223/24.
Those aged 16-17 accounted for 25% of people getting diversion from prosecution in 2023-24 but only 3% of the Scottish population aged 16 to 70.
Similarly, 18-20 years olds accounted for 15% of diversion cases in 2023-24 but only five per cent of the population aged 16 to 70.
The highest rise of 44% was for those aged between 21-25.
Data shows the shoplifting wave is spiralling out of control with 22,806 shoplifting crimes between April 1 and September 30 — an increase of 3605 or 18.8% – and up 60.5% on the five-year average.
ACC Mairs says shoplifting accounted for 39.2% of all acquisitive crime, continuing the upwards trend of the previous two years with 54.8% of repeat offenders being shoplifters, with supermarkets and department stores key targets.
There has been a corresponding rise in violent assaults on shop workers jumping by 10.3% to 1475 from 1337, with 214 injured as shoplifters become “bolder and more aggressive”.
As part of the fightback against the shoplifting spree Police Scotland has launched a “4P” strategy of Pursue, Prepare, Prevent and Protect.
The “Pursue” initiative led to an organised crime gang being nabbed after being identified as being behind a shoplifting spree targeting supermarkets.
ACC Mairs said: “In August 2024, through the correlation of local policing teams in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, Tayside and the North East, an organised crime group was identified as carrying out 32 crimes of shoplifting amounting to a loss of nearly £50,000 from supermarket retailers.”
The offenders have been reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “While we have seen an increase in reports of theft by shoplifting, the detection rate has also increased, with charges being brought in around 50% of reported incidents.
“We work closely with retailers through the Scottish Partnership Against Acquisitive Crime Strategy to deter, prevent and investigate all reported crime.
“Young people are vulnerable to exploitation and become involved in shoplifting for many reasons. We work with partners, including local authorities, to tackle this complex issue, safeguard youngsters and keep our communities safe and our campus officers and youth volunteers regularly speak to young people to highlight the impact of shoplifting.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland’s unique approach to youth justice which both confronts and corrects youth offending has seen steep reductions in offence referrals, court prosecutions and custodial sentences over the past decade.
“However, retail crime causes significant disruption and harm, especially for shop workers, and any increase in these types of incidents, including where children are involved, is concerning.
“That is why if MSPs back the Scottish Government’s draft budget, we will make £3 million available in 2025-26 to help tackle retail crime. This is in addition to an investment next year of a record £1.62 billion for policing – an increase of £70 million on 2024-25.”
