Police Scotland has revealed that 11,290 arrest warrants were outstanding as of May 21, 2026, a 12 percent increase from 10,064 in September 2025. This surge comes as the force grapples with escalating gang violence, including a long-running feud between the Lyons and Daniel crime families.
Class A and B Crimes Among Outstanding Warrants
Of the total warrants, 1,716 are for Class A crimes, which include murder, rape, serious assault, and organised crime involvement. Another 5,962 fall under Class B, covering weapons offences, domestic violence, and serious road traffic violations. Glasgow has the highest number of warrants at 2,140, followed by Edinburgh with 1,464 and Lanarkshire with 1,320.
High-Profile Fugitive: Derek Ferguson
One notable case is Derek Ferguson, wanted for the 2007 murder of barman Tam Cameron in Bishopbriggs near Glasgow. Ferguson, nicknamed Deco, is also sought for questioning in the murder of Billy Bates, whose body was found in an oil drum near the Erskine Bridge in 2007. He has been on the run for almost 20 years, with sightings reported across Europe and Turkey. In 2017, it was suspected he returned to Scotland in 2015 using a fake passport. Last month, the National Crime Agency named him among the 12 Most Wanted British criminals hiding in Spain.
Police Resources Strained by Gangland Violence
The rise in warrants coincides with Police Scotland's Operation Portaledge, which has led to over 60 arrests in the past 15 months targeting firebombings and machete attacks linked to the Lyons-Daniel feud. The force has also faced increased public disorder at asylum hotel protests. David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, attributed the backlog to a lack of officers: "It is unacceptable that we have people in our communities that have arrest warrants out for crimes that are so serious. The problem is that there are not enough police officers to deal with the demands on their time. That is one of the reasons that the numbers of arrest warrants are building up. If you don't have enough police officers then that is what happens you end up with a backlog. It is clear to me we need another 1000 officers. We can't continue to do more with less."
Political Reactions
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: "It is deeply troubling that there are more than 11,000 arrest warrants outstanding across Scotland, including for some of the most serious crimes. Ministers must take urgent action to address the concerns of frontline officers and staff who have been sounding the alarm about the service being hollowed out. The Chief Constable has already clearly stated the financial situation facing Police Scotland, with a significant shortfall in funding. The SNP government must heed this warning before it is too late." Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Yi-pei Chou Turvey MSP added: "While the number of police officers has fallen, the demands on police time have soared. As a result, those officers that remain are effectively being asked to perform miracles. The SNP promised that their centralisation of Scottish policing would be better for police officers. Instead, pressures have only increased and officers are overstretched." Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr MSP commented: "These shocking figures lay bare the strain our police force is under because of the savage and sustained cuts to its budgets year after year. Senior officers and the police federation tell us every year how under-resourced and under pressure the thin blue line really is. Officer numbers are at their lowest since 2007. Station closures and stress on serving officers have left areas with what has been described as 'almost invisible' and 'utterly reactive' service. It's little wonder that criminals are staying at large for longer while police on the street struggle to hunt them down. Unless the SNP government changes tack, this dangerous and unacceptable situation will only get worse."
Expert Analysis and Police Response
Graeme Pearson, former Director General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, noted that major investigations like Operation Portaledge drain resources: "There is no doubt when gangland violence continues as it has does this year that it does divert a significant resource. As a result warrants can slip down the priorities when it comes to enforcement. The whole system appears to be caught up in a series of clogs which prevent efficient enforcement." Police Scotland stated that 7,163 individuals are currently wanted, with many having multiple warrants. A spokesperson said: "All arrest warrants are prioritised according to the threat, risk and harm and those facing arrest should be aware we'll follow all lines of inquiry and use all resources to locate them as soon as possible. Local, national and specialist resources as well as all available intelligence techniques will be deployed to locate those who pose the greatest risk of harm and threat to communities and apprehend them." 64 percent of outstanding warrants are for failure to appear in court.
Government Response
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The issuing of warrants is a matter for the independent courts, while the execution of warrants is the responsibility of Police Scotland, who remain focused on the investigation of crime and keeping our communities safe. We are investing record funding of more than £1.7 billion in policing in 2026–27 which will enable the service to recruit and maintain officer numbers at 16,500. Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales, and remains a safe place to live, with recorded crime having fallen by half since 1991."
