The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has urged the next Scottish Government to provide financial support for modern CCTV systems.
The trade body warned that spiralling retail crime and rising business costs have left many Scottish retailers unable to afford security upgrades.
Ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament elections, the Fed is calling on political parties to commit to grants for new CCTV technology that would record better quality images and sound, with digital links to Police Scotland to make reporting easier.
Shoplifting in Scotland increased by 57% over the past decade, according to latest Scottish Government figures. Recorded offences rose by 16% last year alone, from 39,000 to 45,000.
In 2024-25, there were 11 serious assaults of retail workers recorded under the Protection of Workers Act 2021. During the same period, police recorded 3,169 offences involving threatening and abusive behaviour towards retail workers.
“Soaring theft, assault and abuse in shops is absolutely terrifying but many of our members can’t afford to upgrade their CCTV,” said Hussan Lal, the Fed’s president in Scotland.
“Quite frankly many have systems which in 2026 aren’t fit for purpose. Small shops are burdened with higher costs such as energy and employers’ national insurance contributions. A £6,500 upgrade is simply beyond their reach.”
The Fed said the grant could be modelled on the Scottish Government’s Business Energy Scotland (BES) scheme for small and medium sized businesses. It added that the costs would be “considerably lower” than the BES scheme, which provides loans of up to £100,000 and cashback grants of up to £30,000.
The targeted investment in CCTV would “curb crime, save police and retailers time and enable police to achieve a break-through in terms of successful investigations”, said the trade body.
Mr Lal, a retailer in Paisley, said: “We believe an impression that crime is not being dealt with effectively appears to be one reason for a volatile electorate. There is everything to gain for political parties committing to obviously effective action.”
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