A staggering 95% of retailers have reported experiencing a form of hate crime each month, according to the latest figures recorded in the Scottish Grocers’ Federation 2022 Crime Report.
This number reaches 100% across surveyed participants who have reported some level of theft, abuse or violence last year.
Shoplifting was seen to be one of the most common offences recorded by retailers in 2021, with almost all saying theft was experienced on a daily basis.
As a result, the annual cost of store crime for those involved in the survey reached a total of £2.3 million.
Since the launch of the Protection of Workers Act 2021, figures by Police Scotland found reported crimes have reached 3,099 with detention rates high at 61.3%.
The majority of these cases were due to threatening abuse at 1,750 reported and a further 1,333 involving assault.
“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,” Scottish Grocers’ Federation chief executive, Pete Cheema OBE said.
“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.”
This news follows a surge in thefts across supermarket stores as a result of high food prices which have continued to increase during the cost-of-living crisis.
A survey by My Favourite Voucher Codes found that 34% of 2,584 UK shoppers surveyed admitted to having stolen products at self-service checkouts in the last year with 69% of respondents admitting that price increases on supermarket products was the main factor behind their shoplifting.
