SGF Crime Seminar 2026

19 Feb 2026

Feb 19

The SGF Crime Seminar, held on 12th February 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport, brought together retailers, industry partners and law enforcement representatives for an engaging and informative day focused on tackling crime and improving community safety. The event provided a valuable platform to discuss the challenges facing the sector, share best practice, and strengthen collaboration.

Delegates heard insightful speeches from excellent speakers including Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, and DCI Jackie Knight & Police Inspector Emma Wright of Police Scotland. The event also concluded with a retailer panel session, where retailers discussed the very real impact that retail crime has on their businesses every day.

In addition to the seminar programme, a range of exhibitors showcased products and services designed to help retailers prevent and respond to crime. The event also offered excellent networking opportunities, enabling attendees to connect with key stakeholders, exchange ideas and reinforce the collective commitment to creating safer retail environments across Scotland.

Thank you to everyone involved in this important event for the sector.

SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide 2025/26

The SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide 2025/26 was also published at the recent Crime Seminar. It reveals that retail crime is continuing to escalate across Scotland, with devastating consequences for convenience retailers and their staff. The findings underline the need for more action from government to expand the work of the recently renewed Retail Crime Taskforce.

Research gathered from convenience retailers nationwide shows that over three quarters of stores (77.8%) now have at least one member of staff who has experienced mental health or wellbeing issues as a direct result of retail crime. Meanwhile, almost four in five retailers (78.3%) report an increase in violence towards shop workers.

The average cost of shop theft averages £10,431 per store in 2025/26, based on responses from 732 stores participating in the SGF annual crime survey. When scaled to Scotland’s total 5,228 convenience stores, this equates to an estimated annual cost of £54.5 million, placing crippling pressure on the sector.

Further data published at the SGF annual Crime Seminar On 12th February reveals that:

54.8% of convenience retailers believe shoplifting has increased over the past year, with 99.6% stating it is now a daily occurrence.

More than eight in ten stores report incidents of hate crime at least once a month, while almost all experience violence against staff on a monthly basis (80.6% and 78.3% respectively).