Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee with an overview of the strategies and collaborative prevention activity relevant to acquisitive crime, with a specific focus on retail crime challenges.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 10 December 2024
Date : 10 December 2024
Location : online
Background
Acquisitive crime is a high-volume matter accounting for a substantial number of all crimes reported in Scotland, often targeting the most vulnerable in our society. In 2023/2024, 111,596 acquisitive crimes were recorded by Police Scotland which accounted for 46.4% of all reported crime.
In general terms, acquisitive crimes are those in which an offender acquires or takes items from another person, so covers a number of different types of offences, including but not limited to, theft by housebreaking, theft of/from a vehicle, fraud, bogus worker crime, shoplifting and rural crime variants of fuel and livestock theft.
The intrusive and invasive nature of crimes such as housebreaking and the adverse impact on members of the public when their livelihoods are significantly impacted by acquisitive crime, requires a victim focused approach to ensure a high quality of service delivery on every occasion an acquisitive crime occurs.
The national strategic assessment 2023/2028, identified acquisitive crime as a substantial operational policing priority but proportionately tackling acquisitive crime represents a challenge for police and partners.
Effective long-term reductions in acquisitive crime levels requires a multifaceted prevention approach across a wide range of statutory and third sector partners, as well as some commercial entities.
