Shoplifting strategy is in the bag says Sarwar

ANAS Sarwar has promised to tackle Scotland’s shoplifting epidemic if elected as First Minister next year, accusing the SNP Government of a “soft-touch approach”.

- By Ben Borland

ANAS Sarwar has promised to tackle Scotland’s shoplifting epidemic if elected as First Minister next year, accusing the SNP Government of a “soft-touch approach”.

A report from the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) shows the average cost of retail theft and vandalism has increased to a staggering £19,673 per store — up 38% from the year before.

The annual Crime Report 2024/25 says shoplifting now accounts for an annual total cost of approximately £102.7million, which is crippling the sector.

Official figures show shoplifting has soared by 124% since 2021, with a rise of 17% in the last year alone. In the year ending June 2025, more than 47,000 instances of shoplifting were recorded in Scotland.

However, most shoplifters face only fiscal fines for their crimes — penalties that can be refused and thus not paid at all.

The Scottish Labour leader is attempting to portray his party as tough on crime as May’s election looms, in a bid to distance himself from Sir Keir Starmer’s bungling administration.