Trading hard for many
NEARLY 100% (96%) of shops surveyed by the Federation of Independent Retailers said that they were struggling to survive due to rising retail crime, employment costs and operating costs in general.
Similarly, 96% of respondents also cited the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as a contributing factors.
Retail crime – including violence and abuse – had also risen since January 2025 according to 66% of respondents.
The vast majority (87%) felt that local authorities and Trading Standards had not done enough to curb the trade in illicit goods.
The Fed’s National President Mo Razzaq said: “The figures revealed by the survey are disturbing, but they are not really surprising.
“Independent retailers are being hit from all sides, with criminals who steal from our shops and attack us and our staff largely going unpunished, and soaring costs and increased legislation pushing more retailers ever nearer to being forced to closing their doors for good.”
New tools available to tackle thefts
RETAILERS Against Crime has been showcasing its new SentrySIS platform that is intended to help detect and catch frequent shoplifters who use the same methods and travel around areas.
The system, which was briefed to retailers in Aberdeen, was highlighted by Police Scotland CID officers as being helpful in securing convictions due to retailers using the system to report retail crime and other incidents.
“The successes speak for themselves and demonstrate what we can achieve by working together, sharing information and experiences and using SentrySIS to report retail crime when it happens,” said RAC intelligence co-ordinator Natasa Wilson.
“We can provide added intelligence which you may not have come across about the different MOs (modus operandi) offenders use – the extreme lengths they go to and the effort they put in to steal valuable stock from your stores.
“We are seeing a lot of theft by distraction from teams who know exactly what they are doing. They scope out the shop in advance, get their bearings and work together to remove a substantial amount of items extremely quickly and they are exceptionally good at what they do.”
RAC also emphasised how important it was to report any retail crime.
Funding for the future
FINANCIAL aid charity Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust (LTCT) has announced its postgraduate bursary schemes are open for 2025/26.
The charity, known for its support for those families working in the convenience, grocery and pharmacy trades, is offering students up to £5,000 towards postgraduate degrees to those whose parent, carer or spouse is employed in an eligible profession until 1 September.
Professor Anna Vignoles, director of the LTCT, said: “Our postgraduate bursaries are designed to be valuable support for students keen to continue their studies.”
