One in six Scots (17%) have witnessed verbal or physical abuse of shop staff in the last 12 months according to a new survey by the Scottish Retail Consortium. This can include racial or sexual abuse, physical assault or threats with weapons.
The shocking statistic was revealed by the latest BRC-Opinium survey data which surveyed 205 Scots.
The data also shows 19% of customers have witnessed shoplifting taking place while at a store in the last 12 months.
The research comes as Scotland experiences record levels of crime against retailers. Last month official data showed thefts from shops spiking by 18% last year to 43,000 incidents, which is more than 100 incidents a day.
Crime against retailers in Scotland costs tens of millions of pounds each year, through thefts and spending by stores on crime prevention measures such as CCTV, more security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras. The financial cost is significant, adding to the wider cost pressures retailers already face, and is ultimately paid by customers through higher prices and less convenient shopping.
Following representations from the Scottish Retail Consortium and others, the Scottish Government unveiled in its Budget that £3 million would be set aside to combat crime against retailers.
David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said:
“Abusive or violent behaviour towards shop staff is wholly and utterly unacceptable. These stark figures show that seeing such incidents of abuse or indeed theft has become an all-too-common part of the shopping experience for many Scots.
“While an incident can be over in a matter of seconds, it can have life-long consequences on those who experience it, making them think twice about visiting their local high streets. Despite better legal protections for shopworkers and record spending by retailers on crime prevention we know that criminals are becoming bolder and more aggressive.
“Decisive action is needed to get on top of this scourge and in particular to apprehend and deal firmly with persistent perpetrators. We’ve consistently called for tackling crime against retailers to be made a greater priority by the authorities. The Scottish Government’s new dedicated retail crime fund is an encouraging step and should assist. Retailers will hope to see this investment start to turn the tide in the coming months, and hopefully be sustained over the years ahead.”
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