The Retail Crime Taskforce was launched in April last year following £3 million investment from the Scottish government to combat a rise in retail crime.

In the first year of operation, the taskforce’s targeted approach to “prevent, pursue, protect and prepare” in areas identified as most at risk has resulted in 3,671 shoplifting charges and detections.

A further 508 charges under the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act 2021 for offences against retail workers have been made along with a total of 807 arrests.

The funding announcement of a continued £3 million each year for the next three years, in the Scottish government’s recent draft budget for 2026-27, comes in addition to an overall Police Scotland budget increase to over £1.7 billion – a rise of £81.5 million, or five per cent, compared to the 2025-26 Autumn Budget Revision.

Community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: “Shop workers deserve to feel safe, and retailers deserve to trade without fear of shoplifting. In less than a year, Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has provided a visible and measurable impact on retail crime, working directly with retailers to prevent offending, pursue criminals, and protect shop workers.

“That is why the Scottish government is providing a further £3 million in each of the next three years to continue this vital work – both preventing crime and ensuring offenders are held to account.

“This is in addition of a record £1.7 billion policing budget, enabling Police Scotland to deliver on frontline priorities and progress its transformation agenda.”