Theft, Abuse and Violence Still Widespread in Retail, Says SGF Report

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation 2022 Crime Report highlights the substantial impact of crime on store owners and staff across Scotland. With 100% of respondents reporting some level of theft, abuse or violence in the previous year.

Shoplifting offences reached staggering levels in 2021, with almost all operators experiencing theft on a daily basis. The biggest trigger for aggression and abuse continues to be the enforcement of age restrictions and challenging customers for proof of age. While 95% of retailers also reported experiencing some form of Hate Crime, monthly. SGF figures, produced in the report, show that the annual cost of store crime for survey participants totalled £2.3 million.

Figures collated by Police Scotland reveal the level of recorded retail crime for the year since launch of the Protection of Workers Act 2021. With the total number of reported crimes reaching 3,099, to date. Detection rates remain high at 61.3%*, while threatening abuse and assault make up the majority of reported cases, at 1,750 and 1,333 respectively.

SGF Chief Exec, Pete Cheema OBE said: “Retailers and staff provide an essential community service, and it is completely unacceptable that they are forced to turn up to work and face threating abuse or violence.

“We have taken great strides with the introduction of the Protection of Workers Act, which came in to force last August. Our report shows, however, that 100% of retailers are regularly affected by crime, seriously impacting the wellbeing of both workers and their families. Every incident is one too many.

“The evidence is clear that in-store crime remains shockingly high and until there is significant improvement to the figures we are seeing, the SGF will be calling for a zero-tolerance approach.”

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation Crime Report provides a snapshot of retail crime across Scotland in 2022.