Shop theft in Scotland has shot up by 17% to 47,381 incidences over the past year, according to new data from the Scottish government.
It also marks a 124% rise in shop theft since 2021 when 21,136 incidences were reported.
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF), however, revealed in its recently published manifesto, ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, that the official figures only show reported crime, which “may not reflect the full impact of retail crime on local shops and staff”.
It is now calling for long-term support to help Police Scotland tackle the deluge of shop theft devastating local businesses and risking the safety of retail workers.
The Scottish government committed £3m extra for Police Scotland to tackle retail crime in the 2025/26 budget, but that funding has not yet been renewed beyond the end of the financial year.
“Shop staff who provide an essential local service are facing abuse and violence every day, and businesses are forking out thousands of pounds for extra security and in lost goods. That is completely unacceptable,” said SGF head of policy & public affairs Luke McGarty.
“SGF very much welcomes the extra funding last year, and we have been working closely with Police Scotland to support the new taskforce on retail crime. Progress is being made, but at the very least that funding must be renewed in the budget this autumn, before the situation gets even worse.”
This month also marks the fourth anniversary that the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act, promoted by Daniel Johnson MSP, came into force.
It provides a specific offence for assaulting, threatening or abusing any retail worker and a harsher sentence if they were enforcing a statutory age restriction, resulting in a fine with penalties escalating to a prison sentence.
“Scottish retail workers suffer far too many incidents of violence, abuse and threats. No one should feel afraid to go to work, but far too many retail workers are,” said Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland Tony Doonan.
“Usdaw’s own survey shows that nearly three-quarters of our members working in retail are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.
“Scotland’s protection of retail workers law has made a difference, having been used for nearly 8,000 incidents, but more needs to be done. We are continuing to work with retailers, the Scottish government and Police Scotland to help ensure that legislation is fully utilised.”
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