SGF report exposes devastating impact of crime on convenience retailers and staff
New figures published today (12th Feb) in the SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide 2025/26 reveal 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 £10,431per 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 during the SGF annual Crime Seminar at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Edinburgh, 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).
Nearly all respondents (99.4%) report weekly incidents of abuse when refusing a sale or requesting proof of age.
SGF Chief Executive, Dr Pete Cheema, OBE said: “For thousands of shop workers across Scotland, going to work now means putting their personal safety on the line. Assaults, stabbings, spitting, threats, and relentless abuse have become an all-too-common part of daily life on the shop floor. Our latest Crime Report, published today at the SGF Crime Seminar in Edinburgh, exposes the full and alarming scale of criminality facing the convenience sector.
“Retail crime is spiralling out of control. Every indicator is moving in the wrong direction, and the damage to workers, businesses and local communities is profound and accelerating. This is a public safety emergency hiding in plain sight.
“Retailers urgently need support. The police and courts are overwhelmed, and many crimes go unreported because retailers lack confidence that action will be taken. Offenders know they are unlikely to face consequences, and even when arrests are made, cases can take years to reach conviction.”
Dr Cheema added: “I would like to thank everyone who helped make today’s event possible. We are grateful to our speakers from Police Scotland, the Minister for Community Safety the Cyber and Fraud Centre, as well as our members and sponsors. Without their continued support, SGF could not achieve the impact it does.”
The report also highlights concerning figures on the prevalence of Hate Crime, with 80.6% of retailers experiencing incidents at least once a month.
