The Scottish Police Federation has said there are concerns children are “routinely exploited” for the purposes of criminality as the number being caught with stolen goods rises.
New figures from Police Scotland show the number of children caught by police in possession of stolen goods has almost doubled in the space of four years.
Analysis by 1919 Magazine of the data shows officers using stop-and-search powers caught 48 young people, some as young as 12, between April and June this year.
The numbers have risen from 104 in 2023/24 to 172 last year and if the rest of 2026/27 continues at the rate it has started, then a predicted 200 incidents are set to be recorded this year.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) has said it is concerned that adult criminals are enlisting minors to carry out crimes.
The impact extends far beyond the value of the goods taken. Retail staff are frequently subjected to abuse, threats and violence when challenging offenders
Speaking to 1919 Magazine, SPF chairman David Threadgold said the figures suggested children are being “routinely exploited for the purposes of criminality”.
He continued: “The problem is there is no deterrent – the kids and the criminals know that no matter what happens they won’t be properly punished.
“Sentencing guidelines which say under-25s should not be jailed only work if there are proper preventative, educational or rehabilitative measures instead – but that just isn’t the case.
“The police can only respond to this, we can’t be in every shop all the time.”
Included in the stop-and-search data for the first quarter of this year were two 12-year-old girls caught in East Kilbride, a 14-year-old boy in Glasgow who was also found in possession of a knife, and two 14-year-old boys in Dumfries.
Stephanie Karte, chief executive officer of Retailers Against Crime, said its members were increasingly reporting concerns about young people being “exploited by organised offenders to carry out thefts on their behalf”.
She said: “While shoplifting is often viewed as a low-level offence, in many cases it forms part of wider criminal activity, where children and vulnerable individuals are being used to reduce the risk to those directing the crime.
“Our members regularly describe incidents involving groups entering stores with clear intent to steal, often using distraction techniques, intimidation and co-ordinated actions.
“The impact extends far beyond the value of the goods taken. Retail staff are frequently subjected to abuse, threats and violence when challenging offenders.
“Behind every theft is a real impact on retail workers who are simply trying to do their job and serve their communities.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The criminal exploitation of children is abhorrent and partners on Scotland’s serious organised crime taskforce will use all means at their disposal to ensure that those responsible are held to account.
“We are providing an additional £3 million annually until 2028/29 for Police Scotland to support the work of the retail crime taskforce.
“The taskforce is delivering real results, targeting repeat offenders and using data and intelligence to drive enforcement in the most affected areas.
“In its first year, it resulted in over 6,400 charges and the taskforce continues to work with retailers and communities to help prevent and tackle retail crime.
“Police Scotland officers also make use of a range of operational powers, including stop and search, where lawful, proportionate and intelligence-led, to help prevent and detect crime, and disrupt criminal activity.
“Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales, and our record investment of more than £1.7 billion in 2026/27 is ensuring that Police Scotland can maintain officer numbers at 16,500.”
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Phil Davison said: “Intelligence-led stop and search is a valuable and effective policing tactic that helps us keep people safe in many different ways. This tactic must be used lawfully, proportionately and in line with the code of practice, which was introduced in 2017.
“The code has a dedicated section for children and provides guidance for officers when deciding to stop search a child using the appropriate statutory power.
“All searches carried out are subject to governance and review in line with scrutiny arrangements to confirm they comply with the code of practice being lawful, necessary and proportionate.
“Retail crime is not victimless. We have seen some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities being actively recruited and exploited by organised criminals to steal and resale goods for financial gain, potentially drawing them into wider criminality.
“Through our retail crime taskforce and local policing divisions, we have strengthened our approach, improving intelligence-gathering, proactive enforcement and closer engagement with retailers. This has helped build confidence in reporting and improving our understanding of the scale of the issue, and develop effective disruption of those exploiting young people and committing organised retail crime.
“We remain committed to tackling retail crime while continuing to safeguard young people from harm and coercion into criminal behaviour.
“We will continue to gather evidence and use all resources at our disposal to tackle this type of crime.”