Professor John Robertson OBA

From Shoplifting cases recorded in Scotland since 2019: FOI release, published yesterday, the number of cases reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has fallen from 19 225 to 16 426 and the number proceeded against in Courts has fallen from 12 104 to 8 601:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202500454372/

In July 2023, BBC Business reported:

In March, police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded nearly 33,000 incidents of shoplifting – a significant 30.9% increase compared with March last year.

What might be different?

The Scottish Child Payment was launched in February 2021. It is a social security payment for low-income families with children under 16. Each eligible child receives £26.70 per week. The payment is made every four weeks. The Scottish Government has previously said that the Scottish Child Payment will reduce the child poverty rate. 

https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-social-justice-and-social-security-committee/business-items/delivering-new-benefits/scottish-child-payment#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20social%20security%20payment%20for%20low-income,Child%20Payment%20will%20reduce%20the%20child%20poverty%20rate.