Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has helped detect more than 500 retail offences in the last six months and has expanded its reach in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The Taskforce has revealed plans to increase the number of Taskforce-funded officers in Glasgow and Edinburgh and providing Fife, North East and Tayside Divisions with dedicated resources to address ongoing issues with retail crime.
A team of five officers will work daily in Glasgow to investigate the most significant incidents of retail crime, including those involving violence or repeat offenders. In addition, the unit will also work alongside retailers across Glasgow to provide crime prevention advice and reassurance that crimes taking place within stores are being treated with the utmost seriousness.
In total 352 shopliftings across the country have been detected as part of this activity along with 157 retail worker offences, including assaults.
Sixty-five arrests have been made as a result of Taskforce supported activity.
In addition, Taskforce officers have delivered crime prevention and conflict resolution seminars to businesses throughout the country and worked alongside numerous retail sites to identify security weak-spots and suggest actions stores can take to prevent thefts occurring within.
Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Knight said: “There have been some encouraging successes throughout Scotland as part of the ongoing efforts to tackle retail crime. Local policing divisions have done a terrific job in utilising the resources, specialist intelligence and funding the Taskforce can provide to address retail offences in their regions.
“We’ve also seen our relationships enhanced with retail partners through our increased engagement and there seems to be a genuine appreciation from those who work within this sector for the level of work being undertaken in relation to crime.
“Some of the key successes of the first six months have included producing new training packages to deliver to retailers that are supported by posters and leaflets to deter offending and provide information to staff. We have also established a Joint Retailer Forum, circulate a bi-monthly Retailer Bulletin and are increasing the reach of Retail Watch.
“This has been coupled with success in working with retailers to improve information sharing and activity that has led to a number of successful arrests and charges involving repeat and organised retail offenders who have been causing the most harm to retailers.
“We want to thank retailers for their enthusiastic engagement to help us work together and tackle the issue of retail crime.
“However, we cannot and will not become complacent and we recognise that more work is needed to reduce the number of offences occurring throughout the country. Through continued collaboration we aim to make Scotland a hostile environment for retail crime offenders.”
To mark the expansion of resources into Tayside, a day of action to tackle retail crime and engage with retailers to offer crime prevention advice took place in Perth on Friday, 10 October.
Chief Inspector Greg Burns, Local Area Commander for Perth and Kinross, added: “Our analysis of local crime figures showed an unacceptable spike in offences such as shoplifting and assaults on retail workers and this will not be tolerated.
“On a daily basis, local officers in Perth and Kinross work tirelessly to investigate retail offences, identify those responsible and bring them to justice. However, we recognise that we need a collaborative approach to tackle retail crime.
“The introduction of Taskforce resources into the city will enhance our investigative capacity, as well as our ability to proactively engage with retailers to ensure they are aware of all the necessary crime prevention and crime reporting tools at their disposal to help us address retail crime effectively together.
“The ability to flex specialist national resource into local areas has been a hallmark of Police Scotland and I look forward to working alongside Taskforce colleagues during enforcement and crime prevention activity in the coming weeks and months.”
David Lonsdale, Director, Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Crime against retailers is a scourge on communities across Scotland. Thefts from shops are a key factor behind rising levels of abuse and threats towards store workers. The financial cost pushes up prices for shoppers and undermines the health of our high streets.
“The creation of Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has been well received by the industry, and the early results are encouraging. Our members report improved police response times, the apprehension of persistent offenders, and the return of stolen goods.
“This is making for a more difficult environment for shop thieves. If we are to truly turn the tide on retail crime its crucial this greater prioritisation and focus is maintained which is why SRC is seeking sustained funding for the taskforce from Scottish Government.”
The Taskforce was officially launched in April this year, following a one-year £3m funding allocation from the Scottish Government for 2025/26 to address a rise in retail offences across the country.
