Scottish government told to ‘wake up’ to online crime

The 2023/24 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey shows that:

• Fraud and computer misuse made up over two fifths (44 per cent) of all crimes, totalling 524,000.
• Of these, 456,000 were fraud, while 68,000 were computer misuse.
• Almost 47 per cent of these crimes were bank and credit card fraud.
• An estimated one in ten people were the victim of a fraud or computer misuse crime.
• Less than half of adults in Scotland (45 per cent) believed that the police in their local area were doing an ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ job.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said: “With so much of our lives now online, the Scottish Government need to wake up to the threats posed by criminals who are seeking to exploit that.

“Whether it’s phishing, social media hacking or stolen bank details, these figures show a staggering prevalence of online fraud. Ministers must have a clear plan for cutting this kind of crime and giving people the confidence they need to go about their daily lives.

“This should go hand in hand with giving fraud teams the tools, time and expertise to pursue crimes properly.

“More broadly, Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see a properly resourced justice system that supports the police and prosecution authorities in doing their jobs and boosts public confidence.”

On figures from the survey also showing a rise in violent crime, with estimated violent crime increasing by 73 per cent since 2021/22, Mr McArthur added: “For many years, the SNP have failed to properly invest in our justice system.

“After stretching the thin blue line of Scottish policing to breaking point, violent crime is on the rise and too many don’t feel safe in their own communities.

“Liberal Democrats would end this neglect, give the police the support they need and keep the public safe.”