Traders spent more in efforts to cut crime

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has measured the cost of crime to shopkeepers for the second time.

It said that the cost had risen by 7% in two years to �166m.

Shoplifting accounted for most of the losses, while shops also reported that they were spending more in an attempt to prevent crime.

The SRC said there was also a psychological and emotional cost on the staff involved.

It has called for a more co-ordinated approach to combat retail crime, warning that communities suffer if a local shop closes.

It is clear that there is a serious problem in Scotland Frank Whitelaw Usdaw

SRC director Fiona Moriarty said: "Unless a range of measures which we will be calling for are taken by the Scottish Executive and police, communities across Scotland are going to lose these services.

"Action needs to be taken in partnership with the retail sector now."

The call has been backed by shopworkers' union Usdaw.

It has secured 20,000 signatures on a petition calling for retail crime to be taken seriously, which it will submit to the Scottish Parliament.

The petition states that shopworkers have the right to be safe at work, free from fear of violence and abuse and treated with the respect they deserve by customers.

"A recent survey showed that one in eight shopworkers in Scotland had been the victim of violent, aggressive or abusive customers, compared to one in nine across the rest of the UK," said Usdaw divisional officer Frank Whitelaw.