Shop workers union Usdaw has called on the Scottish Government to do more to protect store staff amid rising levels of retail crime, marking the fifth anniversary of Scotland’s protection of workers legislation.
The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on 24 August 2021. Introduced by Daniel Johnson MSP, it created a specific offence for assaulting, threatening or abusing retail workers, with tougher penalties where staff are enforcing age-restricted sales.
The legislation followed Usdaw’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign and allows offenders to face fines or imprisonment.
Police-recorded crime figures released in June show shoplifting incidents increased from 20,557 during the pandemic to 53,269 in 2025/26, a rise of 159%, including a 19% increase on the previous year.
The shoplifting clear-up rate fell from 74.6% in 2014/15 to 50.6% in 2025/26, although there was a 1.6% improvement last year.
Since the Act came into force, its use has increased each year. Police have recorded 11,023 incidents of common assault against retail workers over the past five years.
‘Smacked over head’
Scottish supermarket worker Rhianna said the law had helped improve police responses to incidents in stores, recalling an incident involving an intoxicated customer who assaulted another shopper with a vodka bottle, also injuring a shop worker.
She said: “A customer was refused alcohol because they were drunk and they smacked another customer over the head with a bottle of vodka [which also injured the shop worker]. The staff called the police and they got there within five minutes… beforehand, it would have been ignored. So, to see that type of improvement is huge and it’s thanks to the protection of workers’ law.”
Tony Doonan, Usdaw Regional Secretary for Scotland, said: “Scotland’s protection of retail workers’ law has made a difference, as Rhianna explains, and has been used to punish over 11,000 offenders, but much more needs to be done in Scotland’s epidemic of retail crime.
“We are continuing to work with retailers and Police Scotland to help ensure that the legislation is fully utilised. However, we have been concerned by a lack of urgency to tackle retail crime from the Scottish Government, who have overseen a record-breaking more than doubling in shoplifting, with a 19% increase last year.
“Scottish retail workers suffer far too many incidents of violence, abuse and threats – over two-thirds of which are triggered by theft from shops and armed robbery. No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but far too many retail workers do.”
Usdaw General Secretary Joanne Thomas added: “Scottish shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. The groundbreaking protection of workers’ legislation that came into force in Scotland was an important step forward and has inspired similar legislation in Westminster for England and Wales, and Stormont for Northern Ireland.
“However, passing the legislation is not enough on its own and it must be backed up with investment in policing and a priority being given to retail crime, which is spiralling out of control. Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and too many shop workers suffer all too often.”
