The Scottish government has confirmed a further £9 million investment to continue Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce, following what it described as a “visible and measurable” impact on shoplifting and violence against retail staff.
Funding of £3m per year for the next three years has been secured in the draft 2026-27 Budget, ensuring the taskforce can build on its first year of operation, which has already delivered 3,671 shoplifting charges and detections and 807 arrests.
Launched in April 2025 in response to rising levels of retail crime, the police-led initiative operates under four key objectives – Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare – targeting areas most at risk while working directly with retailers to improve security and reporting.
In addition to shoplifting offences, Police Scotland has recorded 508 charges under the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act 2021 for assaults or abuse against retail workers. The taskforce has also identified 2,100 suspects, disrupted 82 organised crime group activities and submitted more than 1,060 intelligence logs since its launch.
The funding announcement comes alongside an increase in Police Scotland’s overall budget to more than £1.7 billion, representing a rise of £81.5m (5%) compared with the 2025-26 Autumn Budget Revision.
Community safety minister Siobhian Brown said shop workers deserved to feel safe at work and retailers should be able to trade without fear of theft.
“In less than a year, Police Scotland's Retail Crime Taskforce has provided a visible and measurable impact on retail crime, working directly with retailers to prevent offending, pursue criminals, and protect shop workers,” she said. “That is why the Scottish government is providing a further £3m in each of the next three years to continue this vital work – both preventing crime and ensuring offenders are held to account.”
Retailers have welcomed the continued funding. Mark Millar, director of stores for Boots in Scotland, said tackling retail crime required close collaboration between businesses and authorities.
“As an active member of the Retail Crime Taskforce since its inception, we welcome this funding which will strengthen our ability to share intelligence between police and disrupt prolific offenders,” he said. “We are fully committed to working with the Scottish government and Police Scotland to ensure that our retail stores and high streets remain vibrant, welcoming and safe environments for our store teams and customers.”
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said the taskforce had supported local policing divisions nationwide in tackling retail offences and bringing those responsible to justice.
He added: “Our commitment to crime prevention has also seen us liaise with numerous outlets throughout Scotland to offer specialist advice aimed at improving security and enhancing the safety of retail workers. The additional three-year funding recognises the significant progress made in the last nine months, but we know more must be done to tackle retail crime and we will not become complacent in our efforts to reduce crimes such as shoplifting and the assault and harassment of retail workers.”
The Retail Crime Taskforce operates alongside the Scottish Partnership Against Acquisitive Crime (SPAACE), bringing together Police Scotland, retailers and partners to address theft and wider acquisitive crime. The Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act 2021 continues to provide specific legal safeguards for shop staff, creating a dedicated offence for assault or abuse against retail workers.
Meanwhile, the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, published yesterday, revealed that the number of shop thefts recorded by the police has increased by 5 per cent on the previous year to 519,381 incidents.