The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) is calling for long-term support for Police Scotland to tackle a 124% spiralling of shoplifting incidents over the past four years.
According to the association, the number of these crimes grew from 21,136 to 47,381 from the year ending June 2021 to 2025, “devastating local businesses and risking the safety of retail workers”.
The latest 12 months in that period saw a 17% uplift on the previous year from 40,554 to 47,381 reported incidents, which the SGF fears may not reflect the full extent of retail crime, because often retailers fail to report incidents.
As with drive-offs, retailers often don’t bother reporting incidents due to inaction from law enforcement, with police often unwilling or unable to investigate, and the courts giving lenient sentences when cases make it that far.
It describes crime as the most significant challenge facing the convenience sector in Scotland today. However, it says that despite the Scottish Government committing £3 million extra for Police Scotland to tackle retail crime in the 2025/26 budget, that funding has not yet been renewed beyond the end of the financial year.
Luke McGarty, SGF head of policy & public affairs says: “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.”
“Across every metric, retail crime, including organised crime is on the rise. The impact on staff, businesses and communities can be overwhelming and many cannot afford to wait for support any longer.”
