The SNP are presiding over an “epidemic” of shoplifting cases across Scotland, the Scottish Conservatives have warned today (Monday).
The recorded crime statistics for 2025-26 published last week show 53,369 shoplifting cases occurred last year, which was almost 20% higher than the number recorded in 2024-25.
The latest figures are also 86% higher than the 28,650 shoplifting offences that took place in 2016-17.
Justice spokesman Stephen Kerr says the SNP have “monumentally failed” to get a grip on the spiralling number of cases and their relentless weakening of the justice system means offenders know they won’t be properly punished for their crimes.
Kerr says that retail workers are being put at risk every day at work due to inaction from successive SNP justice secretaries that has left them at the mercy of shoplifters who are often violent.
He also slammed the nationalists for their “savage” cuts to frontline policing which means officers do not have the resources they need to catch those responsible.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr MSP said: “These shocking figures confirm the SNP are presiding over an epidemic of shoplifting cases across Scotland.
“Retail workers are being put at risk every day and being left at the mercy of shoplifters who are often violent, because the SNP have monumentally failed to get on top of the spiralling number of offences.
“Those have almost doubled over the last decade, but still SNP ministers are missing in action.
“The nationalists’ relentless weakening of Scotland’s justice system means criminals know they can get away with brazenly stealing from shops with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
“That is only compounded by the SNP’s savage cuts to frontline policing during their two decades in power. That means hardworking officers do not have the resources they need to catch those responsible and crack down on these crimes.
“These figures must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to finally deliver proper protection for retail workers and deliver proper punishments against shoplifters.”
Link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2025-26/ and table attached (Table 1, column 27 for shoplifting specific stats since 2016-17).