Scots Express Widespread Concern Over Crime Rate and Police Resources

A new opinion poll conducted by Survation has found that over a third of Scots believe the crime rate has increased in their local community, with widespread public concern over the police having insufficient resources. The poll of 1,003 people in Scotland aged 16 and above, conducted between June 9 and 12, found that 34% of respondents said the crime rate in their local area has changed since two years ago, with 13% saying it has risen a lot and 21% saying it has gone up a little. Only 11% believe the rate has fallen.

Key Takeaways:

• A combined total of 34% of Scots said the crime rate in their local area has changed since two years ago, with 13% saying it has risen a lot and 21% saying it has gone up a little.
• Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Scots said they were not confident that police in their local area had sufficient resources to prevent crime from happening in the first place.
• 49% of respondents said they were not confident that police had the resources to deal with incidents as they occur.
• There was a more even split in terms of solving crimes, with 43% of Scots expressing confidence and 46% stating the opposite.
• 33% of respondents said they were confident that there were enough resources to provide visibility of police officers in their community.
• Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said the poll pinpoints the problem with policing under the SNP, which has allowed basic policing to decline, therefore trust in the police service is being eroded.
• Scottish Conservative community safety spokeswoman Sharon Dowey said the survey exposes how badly the SNP's soft-touch justice system is failing Scots, and that SNP ministers need to urgently show some common sense and start to prioritise frontline policing by delivering the resources required to keep communities safe.
• Justice Secretary Angela Constance pointed to a record budget from the Scottish Government for policing, with PS4.2 billion being invested across the justice system, including a record PS1.64bn for policing, an increase of PS90 million on 2024/25.

Statistics:

• 34% of Scots said the crime rate in their local area has changed since two years ago.
• 13% of Scots said the crime rate in their local area has risen a lot since two years ago.
• 21% of Scots said the crime rate in their local area has gone up a little since two years ago.
• 11% of Scots said the crime rate in their local area has fallen since two years ago.
• 62% of Scots said they were not confident that police in their local area had sufficient resources to prevent crime from happening in the first place.
• 49% of Scots said they were not confident that police had the resources to deal with incidents as they occur.
• 43% of Scots expressed confidence in the police's ability to solve crimes.
• 46% of Scots stated that they were not confident in the police's ability to solve crimes.
• 33% of Scots said they were confident that there were enough resources to provide visibility of police officers in their community.
• PS4.2 billion is being invested across the justice system, including a record PS1.64bn for policing, an increase of PS90 million on 2024/25.

Sources:

• Survation poll of 1,003 people in Scotland aged 16 and above, conducted between June 9 and 12.
• 1919 Magazine, which is funded by the Scottish Police Federation (SPF).
• Recorded Crime in Scotland 2024/25.
• Scottish Crime and Justice Survey.
• Scottish Government.