An average of nine retail employees in Scotland were attacked at work every day last year, with the use of knives against them of “significant concern”, according to new figures.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the numbers “laid bare the human cost” of criminality in the sector.
Retailers in the UK spent a “staggering” £1.9 billion on crime prevention and losses from crime to the industry, up 12% on the previous year and the equivalent of around 20% of the sector’s estimated profits, the BRC’s annual survey suggested.
More than £700 million was lost to customer theft alone, a rise of 31% on 2017.
Retailers are spending 17% more on cyber security than last year at £162 million, and nearly 80% of the retailers surveyed reported an increase in the number of cyber attacks they had seen.
Approximately 70% of respondents described the police response to retail crime as poor or very poor.
While opinions suggested the police response was generally better for violent incidents compared to customer theft or fraud, only 20% of respondents considered the response good or excellent.
A Scottish Retail Council spokesman said: “Violent or abusive behaviour towards Scottish shop workers is completely unacceptable. It’s frightening this survey reveals the rate of abuse continues to rise with nine Scottish shopworkers a day facing abuse; despite continuing investment by our members.
“Feedback in the survey indicates a correlation between the most serious assaults and purchases of statutory restricted products.
“Recent years have seen more duties placed on shop workers, which is making them more at risk in these situations. That’s very concerning, and why we believe the legislative proposals from Daniel Johnson MSP deserve consideration to ensure everything possible is being done to protect these workers.”
Paddy Lillis, general secretary at the Usdaw union, said: “Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shop workers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them.
“We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse.
“It is time for the Government to act by providing stiffer penalties for those who assault workers; a simple standalone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, Crown Prosecution Service, the judiciary and most importantly criminals.”
