Scourge of blade-wielding, drug-dealing pensioners as more elderly people turn to crime

SCOTLAND is being hit by a ‘silver-haired’ crimewave as record numbers of pensioners were charged with offences last year, new figures reveal.

There are fears that the economic crisis is forcing the elderly to turn to crime as statistics show more than 7,500 accusations were levelled at the over-65s last year.

That represents a 25 per cent increase in just five years.

Some areas have seen thefts committed by OAPs more than double over that period as the recession bites. And crimes involving drugs and weapons have also soared – with dozens of pensioners caught dealing drugs and carrying blades.

In total 7,531 OAPs were charged with offences in the last 12 months – an increase of a quarter from 6030 in 2007/08.

Scotland’s eight police forces were asked under freedom of information legislation to disclose how many over 65s had been charged with crimes in Scotland over the last five years. The Strathclyde Police region saw the sharpest increase in older offenders – with the number of over 65s charged with offences soaring from 4018 in 2007/08 to 5443 in 2011/12.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman David McLetchie said: “These figures demonstrate that there is no retirement age for the criminal classes.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Official statistics show that recorded crime is at its lowest level for 37 years.”