Police are turning to text alerts in a bid to tackle the massive 11,000-warrant backlog leaving dangerous suspects free to roam Scotland’s streets.
Chiefs believe instant mobile alerts could slash numbers of costly arrest warrants being issued by prompting more people to make it to the dock on time.
It would target the growing crisis of no-shows, which have surged to almost two-thirds of all warrants issued this year, adding to the mounting case backlog choking Scotland’s courts.
The proposed scheme aims to tackle the problem while saving cash and freeing up hard-pressed cops by cutting court dodgers and costly searches for wanted suspects.
It comes as data shows 7613 people are still wanted by police, amid a glut of 11,059 outstanding warrants for serious offences including murder and rape.
More than 1600 are classed as Category A warrants – the highest-risk category – which also includes offences such as culpable homicide, attempted murder, serious sexual assault, human trafficking, armed robbery and terrorism-related offences.
Police say they are working with justice bosses to tackle the mountain of outstanding warrants, as the force battles falling officer numbers, rising demands and stretched resources.
Text alerts are among the measures being considered after court no-shows were behind 64% of all arrest warrants issued in 2025/26.
A force report says: “Police Scotland and partners are undertaking work to consider different approaches to reducing the demand from warrants.
“This includes development of electronic reminders to persons to remind them of a court date and other criminal
justice process which may prevent the future need for a warrant being issued.”
The backlog has grown sharply in recent years, with arrest warrants surging from 28,285 in 2022/23 to 37,077 in 2025/26 – a 31% rise and more than 16% above the three-year average.
It comes as frontline officer numbers have fallen, piling further pressure on the over-stretched force.
Scotland’s eight regional forces had 17,496 officers before they were merged into a single national force in 2013.
Since then, the headcount has steadily declined – from 16,805 officers in 2022/23 to 16,615 a year later, before falling again to 16,430 by March this year.
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: “It is deeply troubling that there are more than 11,000 arrest warrants outstanding across Scotland, including for some of the most serious crimes.
“The SNP are utterly failing our communities by allowing officer numbers to fall and failing to properly resource Police Scotland, when the force is already at breaking point.
“Ministers must take urgent action to address the concerns of frontline officers and staff who have been sounding the alarm about the service being hollowed out.”
Police Scotland insist the surge in warrants is stretching capacity, diverting officers from frontline duties and creating potential risks for public safety.
They say it is having a “disproportionate impact” on day-to-day policing, with officers routinely diverted from neighbourhood patrols and other duties to track down and arrest people wanted on outstanding warrants.
The report says: “Police Scotland’s workforce has reduced since 2013. At a very basic level, this means there are fewer police officers available to execute warrants, whilst the number of warrants issued is increasing.
“It places direct demand on frontline officers who are required to trace accused persons wanted on warrant and apprehend them.
“This can involve extensive enquiries to locate individuals, especially those… intent on evading arrest or simply because of the lifestyle an individual leads.”
The force say they are regularly forced to prioritise more pressing urgent incidents over tracking down people wanted on warrant.
The report says: “Police Scotland needs to assess and respond to threat, risk and harm in relation to a range of policing matters this includes, for example, protecting victims from domestic abuse and taking action to tackle the harm caused by drug dealing in a community.
“It may be the case that the threat from these issues is greater than the threat from some outstanding warrants, and resources need to be allocated and deployed according to this.
“The assessment of threat and risk in relation to warrants is not and cannot be a binary approach given the increasing, complex demand facing policing.”
Police Scotland insist the problem goes far beyond policing, warning they alone cannot stop the growing number of people failing to appear in court.
They say the problem will only be solved through long-term strategic commitment, investment in support services and closer collaboration between agencies to tackle the underlying causes of offending.
Experts claim Scotland’s justice system is under unprecedented pressure, beset by massive court backlogs, overcrowded prisons and controversial legislative reforms.
Many have warned that without systemic reform, the justice system is at risk of collapsing.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The issuing of warrants is a matter for the independent courts, while the execution of warrants is the responsibility of Police Scotland, who remain focused on the investigation of crime and keeping our communities safe.
“We are investing record funding of more than £1.7 billion in policing in 2026–27. Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales, and remains a safe place to live, with recorded crime having fallen by almost half since 1991.”
