Police Scotland is stepping up efforts to tackle retail crime and protect shopworkers from violence, abuse and intimidation as officers join a nationwide campaign to make businesses safer.
The force’s Retail Crime Taskforce will work alongside local policing teams and partner organisations during Safer Business Action Week, visiting shops and businesses across Scotland to hear directly about the challenges they face.
The initiative brings together police officers, retailers, trade unions and business organisations in a coordinated effort to address theft, threatening behaviour and other offences affecting the retail sector.
Throughout the week, officers will carry out joint patrols, provide crime prevention advice and take targeted action against persistent offenders.
Businesses will also receive guidance on improving security, while increased police visibility is intended to reassure workers and customers and deter criminal activity.
For the first time, four national organisations are combining their efforts during the campaign, with the National Business Crime Centre, Association of Convenience Stores, Usdaw and Retail Trust working together.
Their involvement reflects growing concern about the treatment of retail employees, many of whom face confrontation and abuse while simply doing their jobs.
Police Scotland will also support the Let’s Respect Retail, Shopkind and Respect for Shopworkers Week campaigns, all of which seek to encourage greater respect for people working in shops.
The initiative is designed to strengthen cooperation between police and businesses, ensuring that concerns raised by retailers help shape local crime prevention activity.
Inspector Emma Wright, from Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce, said:
“It’s really important that we send a clear message to businesses all over the country that they are not alone when dealing with retail crime.
“Such offences are not victimless, and the impact of retail crime has a knock-on impact for us all, which cannot be ignored or understated.
“Initiatives such as Safer Business Action Week allow us to work alongside key partners and collaborate with the retail and business sector on how we can all work together to address the issues most adversely affecting them.”
The National Business Crime Centre is coordinating the campaign, bringing together police forces and business organisations to share information and strengthen responses to retail crime.
Superintendent Lisa Maslen, who leads the centre, said:
“Safer Business Action Week provides an important opportunity to highlight the challenges businesses face on a daily basis, while recognising the continued partnership work taking place across the country.”
“The outcomes we have seen from these joint efforts demonstrate the positive impact of police, local authorities and the business community working together to reduce harm and make places safer for people to work and shop.”
The campaign also recognises that retail crime affects more than the businesses directly targeted, with incidents placing additional pressure on staff, customers and local communities.
For smaller independent shops, particularly those serving rural and Highland communities, crime and threatening behaviour can create considerable disruption for businesses already operating in challenging conditions.
By speaking directly with retailers, officers hope to identify recurring problems and provide practical support tailored to the circumstances of individual businesses.
The emphasis will be on prevention as well as enforcement, with businesses encouraged to report incidents and work with local officers to address emerging concerns.
Police Scotland says its Retail Crime Taskforce will continue working with partners to strengthen security, reduce harm and ensure shopworkers can carry out their jobs without fear of violence or intimidation.
