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‘Wee lads and lasses’ sought for Scottish shoplifting sprees as part of Fagin’s gangs, warns Anti-Slavery Commissioner
Children as young as 10 years old have been arrested for shoplifting in Glasgow stores, according to shocking official figures.
The figures – the result of a Freedom of Information order (FOI) - reveal that almost 500 youngsters have been arrested by the city’s Police in the past year. Of those, more than half - 303 - were aged between 11 and 15.
Perhaps most shocking is that six school children - aged just 10-years-old - were linked to the crimes.
The results also show 34% of children that were detained for stealing from shops were between 16 and 17-years-old.
Police Scotland said: "The last thing a young person needs is to be involved in the criminal justice system early in their lives."
The FOI response reveals 482 under-18s were arrested in connection with shoplifting crimes, between June 2014 and May this year.
More than half of the children (275) arrested were aged between 13 and 15-years-old. All crimes are alleged to have taken place at stories across the Greater Glasgow area in the past year. Some experts believe children are being forced to beg and steal by criminal gangs.
Last month, Kein Hyland, the anti-slavery commissioner warned: "Oliver Twist scenarios" are taking place on Britain's streets as children are tasked with shoplifting and pickpocketing.
Kevin Hyland said youngsters who should be at school are instead being used as part of criminal operations in cities.
He said: "We hear about young children being sent out to do shoplifting, pickpocketing and begging. These are young children who should be at school. We are in the 21st century and yet we have Oliver Twist scenarios happening on our streets and in our cities. It's pure criminality and abuse of children."
Police in Glasgow have vowed to get tough on shoplifters and more patrols are taking place in the city's Style Mile.
The city is the second biggest centre for shopping in Britain, after London's West End.
And senior officers have warned that all shops - including major stores and small independent shops - can fall victim to shoplifters. Some stores are investing in what they call "revenue protection", while others have introduced store detectives and CCTV to protect their products.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Shoplifiting is not a victimless crime - we all pay. Police Scotland works closely with retailers to ensure they are not targeted. It’s unfortunate for young people to be involved in crime at any level. Retailers almost always prosecute and the last thing a young person needs is to be involved in the criminal justice system early in their lives as this can have serious consequences for them later in life."
