Recorded shoplifting incidents rise by 21 per cent in Scotland

The police in Scotland recorded 30,202 shoplifting incidents, or nearly 83 reports a day, in the year ending June 2023, 21 per cent higher than the previous year (24,877).

This is the highest increase for any specific crime category in the quarterly national statistics bulletin released on Tuesday (September 19), which has shown a 2 per cent increase from 2022 in overall crimes recorded.

The crimes of dishonesty grouping, which includes shoplifting, saw the largest increase, 7 per cent, in recorded crime, whereas all other crime grouping saw decline year on year, except for crimes against society, which were 2 per cent higher compared to the year ending June 2022.

Significantly, comparing to the pre-pandemic levels on June 2019, shoplifting has in fact decreased by 10 per cent.

However, it should be noted that crimes recorded by the police do not reveal the incidence of all crimes committed as not all crimes are reported to the police.

The overall recording of crime for the year ending June 2023 remains at one of the lowest levels seen for a 12-month period since 1974, which Angela Constance, cabinet secretary for justice and home affairs, attributed to the efforts across policing, justice and community safety partners to deliver safer communities and the investment in the justice system.

“We will continue to focus on crime prevention, reducing reoffending and supporting victims of crime,” she added.

“That is why we are investing £1.45 billion in policing in 2023-24, increasing the resource budget by 6.3 per cent, an additional £80 million, despite difficult financial circumstances due to [the] UK government austerity and our fixed budget.”