Scotland facing fraud ‘epidemic’ as more than 80% of crimes go unsolved – Labour

Scotland is facing a fraud “epidemic”, Labour has warned, after figures revealed more than four in five cases are going unsolved.

Between 2014-15 and 2023-24, the number of frauds recorded by Police Scotland soared by 140% from 6,913 to 16,624.

While the number of crimes being recorded has surged, the percentage being solved has collapsed.

The clear-up rate recorded a decade ago stood at 50.6% but by 2023-24 plummeted to just 16.5%.

A crime is considered “cleared up” if officers have enough evidence to justify bringing forward criminal proceedings.

Police Scotland has said much of the rise in fraud is related to cybercrime which has skyrocketed in recent years.

According to the force, 59% of fraud crimes last year were online – a three-fold increase since 2019.

Police said that for 49% of the cyber fraud records it examined, the location of the perpetrator was unknown.

Another 40% were suspected or confirmed to be outside Scotland while 11% were suspected or confirmed to reside within Scotland.

Crimes of dishonesty, of which fraud accounts for 15%, remain the most prevalent type of crime at 37% of the total.

Scottish Labour MSP Katy Clark said: “Fraud can rob victims of their life savings while also destroying their ability to trust others, yet too often the perpetrators are allowed to repeat the same crime again and again.

“Yet even as police are struggling to solve fraud crimes, the number of cases is soaring.

“The SNP must support police and anti-fraud organisations to combat this fraud epidemic and bring the ruthless individuals behind it to justice.

“Scottish Labour will equip police for the 21st century so that their investigative tools can keep pace with modern criminals.”

Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett said: “We outlined plans to establish a new cyber and fraud specialist division as part of our three-year business plan, published in September last year.

“The new division will tackle the growing demand of online crime, enhance our response to fraud in Scotland and enable closer working with UK law enforcement and other agencies.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Our sympathies are with anyone who has been affected by fraud, which causes significant harm to individuals and businesses.

“Official statistics for 2023-24 confirm that a majority (59%) of all recorded fraud was cyber-enabled.

“To help address this, Police Scotland are establishing a cyber and fraud specialist division, working with UK law enforcement and partner agencies.

“We invested record police funding of £1.55 billion this year and although of little comfort to victims, Scotland continues to be a safe place to live, with crime at one of its lowest levels since 1974 and down 40% since 2006-07.”Show less