Retailers Against Crime joined emergency services, health colleagues and others last month to launch a National Assault Pledge - underlining a joint commitment to reduce violence and abuse against front line workers.

The National Assault Pledge builds upon Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone’s Assault Pledge, developed in response to a concerning increase in violence and abuse against Police Scotland officers and staff.
The national partnership group includes prosecutors, the Scottish Grocers Federation, Retailers Against Crime, British Transport Police, NHS Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, and others. The group will share best practice, develop preventative measures, and use consistent messaging in their workplace to support and encourage staff to report incidents.

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor QPM, who has been leading Police Scotland’s drive to reduce the impact violence and abuse has on officers and staff, said: “Being the victim of an assault can have a long-lasting impact both physically and mentally. It’s not simply part of the job.
“Working in partnership with a number of key organisations highlights our collective approach and united pledge to reduce assaults at work.”

Figures collated by Police Scotland reveal the level of recorded retail crime for the year since launch of the Protection of Workers Act 2021. With the total number of reported crimes reaching 3,099, to date. Detection rates remain high at 61.3%*, while threatening abuse and assault make up the majority of reported cases, at 1,750 and 1,333 respectively.