Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has put the rise in shoplifting centre stage ahead of next year’s Holyrood election, accusing the SNP Government of a “soft touch” approach to crime and pledging to crack down if elected first minister.
During First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Sarwar said shoplifting offences had risen by 124 per cent since the last Scottish election and claimed SNP cuts to policing meant many incidents went uninvestigated unless store staff could identify a suspect.
“Shop staff are going to work fearing for their safety, and communities are undermined by criminals who feel like they can get away with it,” he told MSPs.
His intervention follows visits to local retailers in Glasgow this week, where he said businesses had been left to fend for themselves against rising theft and anti-social behaviour.
Posting on X after speaking to staff at the Gorbals Co-op, Sarwar wrote: “The staff I spoke to this morning were clear – we need action to tackle shoplifting and keep our communities safe.” He also shared videos highlighting the impact of theft on workers and businesses.
At Holyrood, first minister John Swinney dismissed the Labour leader’s comments as “baseless” and “unworthy,” insisting the government had increased police budgets to record levels and invested in tackling retail crime. He argued Scotland has one of the highest incarceration rates in Western Europe, rejecting claims of a “soft touch” justice system.
Sarwar, however, has accused Swinney of “living on another planet”.
“The situation is so bad that businesses in Edinburgh have had to form a shop watch scheme to try and investigate crimes against their own businesses,” he said.
“Victims of crime, being forced to investigate offences perpetrated against them – is that the best we can do?”
Do you think the Scottish government is doing enough to tackle shoplifting?
In a statement, Sarwar vowed that if elected first minister he would strengthen police numbers, back shop workers and introduce tougher consequences for offenders.
“Enough is enough. As first minister, I will end the soft-touch approach of the SNP and stand up for our businesses. I will support the police in their work to clamp down on shoplifting and make sure those guilty of the crime are actually punished,” he said.