The latest recorded crime figures from Scottish Government show that common assault of a retail worker has risen 12% in 2024-25 versus the previous year, while shoplifting has grown 16% in the same time frame.
The number of common assault of a retail worker crimes has risen from 2,555 in 2023-24, to 2,870 in 2024-25, with 406 recording an injury.
In contrast, the number of serious assaults against a retail worker has fallen from 13 to 11 in 2024-25.
There were 44,730 shoplifting crimes committed in 2024-25, accounting for 40% of all Crimes of Dishonesty in Scotland.
The ‘clear-up’ rate for shoplifting has fallen every year over the past 10 years from 74.6% in 2014/5 to 49% in 2024/5, an overall decrease of over one third.
Over two thirds of local authorities suffered a rise in shoplifting in 2024-25, with over half of these seeing double digit growth, while just under a third saw a decline in shop theft.
Levels of shoplifting have increased for four consecutive years and it is now at the highest level since 1971.
The local authority of Midlothian has seen the biggest increase in shoplifting, up 73% from 505 crimes in 2023-24 to 875 in 2024-25.
Edinburgh, which has the highest level of recorded shoplifting in Scotland, saw the second biggest increase, up 39% from 5,747 crimes to 8,007.
Angus saw a 38% increase, to 768 crimes, while West Lothian rose 36% to 1589.
Glasgow City, which experiences the second highest level of shop theft in Scotland, saw shoplifting crimes shoot up 35% to 7,475.
The Shetland Islands, which experience the lowest levels of shop theft, saw shoplifting decline 25% to just 12 crimes in 2024-25, while South Ayrshire saw a 15% drop to 968 crimes. Dundee City welcomed a 13% drop down to 1,896, while Highland was down 10% to 1,349.
While the spiralling rate of retail crime is hugely concerning, the government figures only take into account recorded crime. Almost half (48.2%) of Scottish local retailers said they were unlikely to report shoplifting incidents to the police, according to a recent s SGF survey.
Glasgow retailer Saleem Sadiq is regularly targeted by shoplifters. He claimed that some thieves were stealing high value goods in bulk with a view to selling them on. “A chap walked in, went straight over to the coffee and put 16 jars – each one is worth £7 – into his bag. Then he had another bag with 20 blocks of cheese worth £5 each, which were stolen from another store.” On this occasions, Saleem’s staff stopped the shoplifter and took back the goods. “He’d have gone to the local pub and sold the coffee jars for £2 each,” said Saleem.
He told SLR that the police were often too under resourced to respond to reports, which has led to him losing faith. “We miss community policing,” he said. “We don’t report crime 99% of the time because what’s the point.”
Retail trade union Usdaw claimed it was concerned by the continued growing trend of shoplifting incidents, which have more than doubled since the pandemic, alongside a persistent decline in police ‘clear-up’ rates for the offence. The union welcomed that the protection of retail workers law had been effective in nearly 8,000 assaults since the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into effect on 24 August 2021, but called for greater priority to be given to retail crime.
Tony Doonan – Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland said: “Scottish retail workers suffer far too many incidents of violence, abuse and threats. No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but far too many retail workers are. Usdaw’s own survey shows that nearly three-quarters of our members working in retail are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.
“The scale of the epidemic of retail crime is laid bare in these shocking police recorded crime statistics. It is increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order. This is in no way a victimless crime, with weapons and violence used to ensure these criminals are not stopped. Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers.
“Scotland’s protection of retail workers law has made a difference, having been used for nearly 8,000 assaults, but more needs to be done. We continue to work with retailers, the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to help ensure that legislation is fully utilised so that all retail workers receive the protection and respect they deserve.”
