Shoplifting incidents in Scotland have soared, hitting the highest level in a decade.
- Approximately 40,000 shoplifting crimes were recorded in the past year, marking a 41% increase over ten years.
- 2023-2024 alone saw a 35% rise in shoplifting incidents, highlighting an alarming trend.
- Retailers are spending more on crime prevention, yet thefts continue to escalate, affecting shop workers and customers.
- Authorities urged to prioritise retail crime in Scottish Government’s Strategic Police Priorities to enhance safety.
Shoplifting activities in Scotland have reached unprecedented levels, with a reported figure approaching 40,000 cases in the last year alone. This represents a significant 41% rise over the past decade, underscoring a troubling trend that the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) describes as ‘appalling.’
In the fiscal year 2023-2024, shoplifting cases surged by 35% to 38,674, marking a ten-year peak. During this period, thefts have been on a steady incline since 2014, except for a brief decrease in 2019 attributed to Covid-19 restrictions, as stated in the Records Crime in Scotland report.
David Lonsdale, the Director of SRC, expressed deep concern over the soaring instances of shoplifting, despite retailers’ increased expenditure on crime prevention measures. He noted that many thefts remain unreported by retailers due to scepticism about the effectiveness of subsequent actions.
According to Lonsdale, shoplifting significantly contributes to the abuse and threats faced by shop workers. Criminals are reportedly becoming more audacious and aggressive, which translates into substantial financial impacts borne by the consumers through potential price increases.
The SRC is advocating for enhanced crime prevention strategies, calling on authorities to prioritise tackling retail crime within the Scottish Government’s Strategic Police Priorities. This move seeks to ensure retail spaces become safer environments for workers and shoppers alike.
Political parties have also entered the discourse, with both Labour and Conservative parties committing to address retail crime in their general election manifestos. This intensifies the call for legislative focus on the escalating issue of shoplifting in Scotland.
Efforts must be intensified at both governmental and retail levels to address the concerning rise in shoplifting incidents in Scotland.
