Question reference: S5W-35597
- Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 1 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increase in retail crime during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it will establish a fund to support retailers seeking to improve their CCTV and security systems.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting retailers in tackling any form of retail crime. A new criminal offence of assaulting, threatening and/or abusing a retail worker is expected to commence at the end of Summer 2021.
Whilst there are currently no plans to establish a fund for improving retailer's CCTV and security equipment, the Scottish Government is working in partnership with CrimeStoppers, Fearless and the Scottish Grocers Federation on a campaign to raise awareness of the issue. The campaign will challenge people to think about how they interact with retail workers and encourage retail workers to report criminal behaviour to the Police or anonymously through CrimeStoppers or Fearless.