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Scottish retailers call for stronger action as shoplifting surges 17 per cent

 police officers walk on Argyll street in Glasgow's city centre
Two police officers walk on Argyll street in Glasgow's city centre
Photo: iStock

Summary

  • Police-recorded shoplifting in Scotland jumped 17 per cent in the year to June 2025.
  • Incidents have more than doubled (124%) since 2021.
  • Retailers urge longer-term funding and stronger enforcement to tackle the issue.

Shoplifting offences in Scotland have continued to climb sharply, with new police figures showing a 17 per cent rise in the year ending June 2025. Recorded incidents increased from 40,554 to 47,381 crimes, marking a 124 per cent surge compared to 2021, when 21,136 shoplifting cases were logged.


Responding to the figures, David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), described the scale of the problem as “appalling” and warned that thefts from stores are fuelling wider retail crime challenges.

“Despite record spending by retailers on crime prevention the rate of thefts continues to rise,” Lonsdale said. “Thieving from stores isn’t a victimless crime, indeed it’s a key factor behind rising levels of abuse and threats towards shop workers and we know from member feedback that thieves are becoming bolder and more aggressive. The financial cost pushes up prices for shoppers and undermines the health and vitality of our high streets.”

The SRC welcomed the creation of Scotland’s new Retail Crime Taskforce, backed by £3 million in funding for one year, to crack down on persistent offenders and organised retail crime groups. Early signs from the initiative were said to be positive.

However, Lonsdale cautioned that tackling shoplifting effectively would require sustained effort.

“This greater prioritisation, funding, and focus on persistent offenders and organised criminal gangs which target retailers has been received well by the industry and early results are encouraging. This should make for a more difficult environment for shop thieves. However, the funding and taskforce should be sustained and enhanced if we are to truly turn the tide on thieving and crime against retailers.”

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) echoed those concerns, calling for long-term funding to strengthen Police Scotland’s ability to tackle retail crime.

Luke McGarty, SGF Head of Policy & Public Affairs, said: “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.

“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.”

SGF welcomed the £3m provided in the 2025/26 Scottish Budget to support the retail crime taskforce, but warned that the funding must be renewed in this autumn’s budget “before the situation gets even worse.”

The trade body’s latest Crime Report shows the average cost of shop theft and vandalism has risen 38 per cent to £19,673 per store, representing an estimated £102.7 million annual hit to the convenience sector.

Responding to the figures, the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) maintained that the actual numbers would be much higher, as many incidents go unreported due to the level of response from the police and failure by the courts to take tougher action against offenders.

The Fed has called on politicians, police, and the courts to take retail crime seriously and ensure independent retailers receive the protection they urgently need.

Hetal Patel, national president, said: “These figures are shocking but sadly not surprising to our members, who see stock vanish from their shelves on a daily basis.

“Shop theft is not a victimless crime, it pushes up prices for honest customers, undermines small businesses, and places staff in danger.

“A 124 per cent rise over just four years threatens the very survival of many independent shops, and it’s no wonder so many are closing.

“We urge all political parties aiming for power after the Scottish elections in May to consider expanding and continuing the promising one-year Police Scotland scheme to combat retail crime.”

The latest figures add to growing concerns across the UK about retail crime, with trade bodies and shopworker unions consistently warning of rising theft, violence, and abuse against staff.

This week also marks the fourth anniversary of the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act, which came into force on 24 August 2021. The legislation created a specific offence for assaulting, threatening, or abusing retail staff, with tougher penalties where employees are enforcing statutory age restrictions. Since its introduction, police have recorded 7,861 incidents of common assault against retail workers, underlining the persistent risks faced by store staff.