Report exposes devastating impact of crime on convenience retailers and staff

Retail crime is continuing to escalate across Scotland, with a new report showing almost four in five retailers have reported an increase in violence towards shop workers.

Figures published in the SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide 2024/25 also revealed that more than three-quarters of stores (77.8%) now have at least one member of staff who has experienced mental health or wellbeing issues as a direct result of retail crime.

Industry leaders are calling for more action from the Scottish Government to expand the work of the recently renewed Retail Crime Taskforce.

The SGF report shows the average cost of shop theft averages £10,431 per store in 2025/26, based on responses from 732 stores participating in the SGF annual crime survey.

When scaled to Scotland’s total 5,228 convenience stores, that equates to an estimated annual cost of £54.5m, placing crippling pressure on the sector.

The report also highlights concerning figures on the prevalence of hate crime, with 80.6% of retailers experiencing incidents at least once a month.

SGF chief executive Dr Pete Cheema said: “For thousands of shop workers across Scotland, going to work now means putting their personal safety on the line. Assaults, stabbings, spitting, threats, and relentless abuse have become an all-too-common part of daily life on the shop floor.

“Our latest crime report, published today at the SGF Crime Seminar in Edinburgh, exposes the full and alarming scale of criminality facing the convenience sector.

“Retail crime is spiralling out of control. Every indicator is moving in the wrong direction, and the damage to workers, businesses and local communities is profound and accelerating. This is a public safety emergency hiding in plain sight.

“Retailers urgently need support. The police and courts are overwhelmed, and many crimes go unreported because retailers lack confidence that action will be taken. Offenders know they are unlikely to face consequences, and even when arrests are made, cases can take years to reach conviction.”

It was revealed earlier this week that shop staff in West Lothian will be the first in the region to trial body cameras provided by police in the fight against shoplifting across the wider area.

Police Scotland confirmed it had secured funding for the project which will be rolled out across the Lothians after a successful campaign against retail crime at Straiton retail park over Christmas.

Reporting to Midlothian Police and Fire Rescue Board, officers said that a task force funded by Scottish Government grants had recovered over £3,600 of shoplifted items while patrolling the retail park during December with 30 people charged – 12 of whom were repeat offenders.

And they confirmed plans to provide small shops across the Lothians with body video cameras are progressing with funding already in place.

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “I recognise the disruption and harm caused by retail crime and that action is needed. That is why the Scottish Government provided an additional £3 million in 2025-26 to specifically support Police Scotland’s vital work tackling retail crime, and we will do so again in each of the next three years. That work is having real results combatting retail crime.

“Using a four-pronged approach – prevent, pursue, protect, and prepare – Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce is focused on targeting repeat offenders and organised criminals to bring perpetrators to justice. As part of this work, Police Scotland is engaging with retailers to identify ways they can enhance security to mitigate the impact of retail crime.”