Minimum unit pricing impact on retail crime: FOI release

Information requested

1. What consideration has the Scottish Government given to the impact of Minimum Unit Pricing on rising retail crime?

2. Has the Scottish Government taken any action to mitigate the impact of MUP on retail crime? 

3. Has the Scottish Government conducted an analysis on the impact of MUP on retail crime?

4. If possible, can you share any correspondence to or from the Scottish Government on the connection between MUP and retail crime?

Response

1. What consideration has the Scottish Government given to the impact of Minimum Unit Pricing on rising retail crime?

When considering the effectiveness and impact of Minimum Unit Price (MUP) the Scottish Government had considered that one potential impact could be on social outcomes may increase crime, such as stealing to maintain alcohol consumption. The Scottish Government commissioned Public Health Scotland (PHS) to undertake an evaluation of minimum unit pricing including the impact MUP had on crime. The PHS evaluation found that their comparative analysis of police crime and incident data from Scotland and Greater Manchester found no consistent evidence of MUP having a beneficial or detrimental impact on crime in general.

The PHS evaluation also provided evidence from qualitative research that service providers working with homeless and street drinkers, police, licensing authorities and health service providers, and people who drink harmfully anticipated that MUP would lead to increased stealing and other crime, and this was a major part of professional stakeholders’ reservations about MUP. However, following implementation of MUP, those working with homeless and street drinkers only reported observing increases in existing tendencies towards robbing and stealing in a minority of drinkers. Very few interviewees who drink harmfully reported stealing, and those that did typically did not link it to MUP. A small number of small retailers mentioned observing an increase in shoplifting, which they perceived to be due to MUP.

2. Has the Scottish Government taken any action to mitigate the impact of MUP on retail crime? 

In advance of the price increase of Minimum Unit Pricing on 30 September the Scottish Government co-produced guidance for retailers with the Scottish Grocers Federation and provided retailers with instore display materials such as posters and shelf labels. This ensured retailers were supported to communicate the price increase to customers in advance of the increase taking effect.

The Scottish Government absolutely recognises the disruption and harm to businesses from theft and antisocial behaviour, and Police Scotland and partners are taking action to tackle and reduce it. We value the vital role that retailers and shop workers have in our society and want to ensure that they are protected. No one should be made to feel unsafe when simply doing their job. Threats, abuse, and assaults are not acceptable to any retail workers and the Scottish Government is pleased that the specific offence in the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act 2021 can be used to hold perpetrators to account.

The Scottish Government also fully supports the innovative Scottish Partnership Against Acquisitive Crime, which is led by Police Scotland and includes retailers and a number of other organisations. The Partnership is taking a collaborative approach to preventing and deterring crimes such as shoplifting through the sharing of best practice and intelligence, alongside enforcement activity.

Anyone affected by these kinds of incident should report it to Police Scotland who remain focused on keeping our communities safe from harm.

3. Has the Scottish Government conducted an analysis on the impact of MUP on retail crime?

No. The Official Statistics on police recorded crime include long term trends in shoplifting and crimes and offences recorded under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021. These can be found here.

4. If possible, can you share any correspondence to or from the Scottish Government on the connection between MUP and retail crime?

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the information you have requested does not exist.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.