Meeting of the Parliament 17 June 2026 [Last updated 15:26]
I appreciate Mr Kerr’s question. The Scottish Government recognises the distress that is caused by crime, whether it be retail crime or other forms of crime. The victims are very much in our thoughts, which is why we fully support activity to reduce that harm.
I point Mr Kerr to activities such as the Scottish Government’s continued support for the innovative Scottish partnership against acquisitive crime—known as SPAACE—which is led by Police Scotland and includes retail groups among its members. It is very important that we pursue that partnership approach to ensure that we hear directly from those who are impacted. The Scottish Government absolutely encourages retailers to engage with SPAACE in order to help them safeguard their businesses and the people who work there.