Industry slams ScotGov for lack of action
SHOPLIFTING has risen by a quarter during 2024, according to findings in the latest Scottish Government’s Recorded Crime in Scotland report.
The official statistics, covering the year to September 2024, revealed the number of reported shoplifting crimes rose to 42,271 compared with 33,789 in the year ending September 2023.
This number is also a staggering increase from 2020, when the number of reported crimes sat at 24,861, representing a rise of 70% over the course of four years.
Even with these eye-watering statistics, the real number of shoplifting crimes is likely higher in Scotland, says the director of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) David Lonsdale.
He said: “It’s appalling that thefts from shops has soared by a quarter. Despite record spending by retailers on crime prevention, the rate of thefts continue to rise.
“In fact, these figures won’t even capture the full picture as many thefts aren’t reported by retailers who are sceptical that action will be taken.”
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has also noted the true number is likely much higher than the Scottish Government’s report, as the organisation has stated that 77% of its members are either unlikely or very unlikely to report shoplifting incidents to the police due to a lack of confidence that there will be a meaningful outcome.
Pete Cheema, chief executive at the SGF, said: “We encourage our members to report every crime, but the truth is that many retailers simply don’t see any benefit.
“Shoplifting is a daily event in most stores and most know that the police simply don’t have enough resources to cope.
“But even the Scottish Government’s own official figures speak for themselves, with shop theft set to double over a five-year period.”
The heavy financial burden and retailers’ belief that nothing will improve shows the damaging effect that shoplifting, as well as other crimes such as abuse, has on store owners.
The SRC has urged the Scottish Government to act now to support retail staff across the country, otherwise Parliament will risk emboldening these criminals to become more of a plague on retailers.
Lonsdale said: “Shoplifting isn’t a victimless crime. Indeed, it’s the main factor behind abuse and threats towards shop workers and we know from member feedback that thieves are becoming bolder and more aggresive.
“The financial costs, too, are enormous and are ultimately borne by shoppers themselves – in some cases through higher prices on shop shelves.
“With a swathe of new mandated rules in the pipeline or under consideration, and which may lead to more flashpoints in store, the SRC wants tackling crime against retailers to be made a greater priority by the authorities, including in the Scottish Government’s Strategic Police Priorities, as well as greater funding for the police to combat prolific offenders and organised criminal gangs targeting stores.”
The SGF echoed this as Cheema called on Finance Secretary Shona Robison to make a statement on the matter during the upcoming Scottish Budget announcement on 4 December.
He said: “The cost isn’t just financial, every week we hear about more cases of violence and abuse toward shop workers. But many criminals know that there won’t be any consequences whatsoever for their actions.
“That is why we need the Finance Secretary to send a clear message in the budget next week and provide emergency funding for the Police to get to grips with the devastating impact of retail crime. If the Scottish Government won’t act now, then when?”
