retail environment
A quarter of the UK population has witnessed shoplifting
Nearly a quarter of the UK population (24 per cent) has witnessed shoplifting taking place while at a shop in the last 12 months. That is equivalent to over 16 million people witnessing these events. These shocking statistics were revealed by the latest BRC-Opinium survey data.
The data also shows 23 per cent of customers have witnessed the physical or verbal abuse of shop staff including racial or sexual abuse, physical assault or threats with weapons.
The research comes as the UK experiences record levels of retail crime, with 20 million incidents of theft last year, and incidents of violence and abuse climbing to over 2,000 per day.
Separately, Usdaw – the shopworkers’ union – have produced their own survey showing 77 per cent of retail staff experiencing abuse, 53 per cent threats, and 10 per cent assault. These incidents are not restricted to those working in stores – delivery drivers are often subjected to abuse, physical violence, and threats with weapons. As a result, many are being equipped with protective measures, such as personal safety devices to alert the police to their whereabouts, and DNA spit testing kits.
Crime cost retailers an eye-watering £4.2bn last year. This includes £2.2bn from shoplifting, and £1.8bn spent on crime prevention measures such as CCTV, more security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras. These costs add to the wider cost pressures retailers already face, further limiting investment and pushing up prices for customers everywhere.
There are stark differences between cities in the UK. Customers in Nottingham saw the most shoplifting, with just under a third (32 per cent) of people witnessing an incident. London followed close behind at 29 per cent, followed by Southampton (28 per cent) and Leeds (26 per cent). Meanwhile, Plymouth and Belfast saw the least at 12 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
A similar pattern also existed for abuse of colleagues. Customers in London witnessed the most incidents of physical or verbal abuse at 30 per cent. Nottingham and Liverpool were close second at 29 per cent, with Manchester at 27 per cent of customers.
The government is taking action to address retail crime through the new Crime and Policing Bill. Retailers hope this will play a vital role in protecting retail workers from harm and tackling the surge in theft. The Bill includes a standalone offence which will improve the visibility of violence so that police can allocate appropriate resources to address the issue. It also seeks to remove the £200 threshold of ‘low level’ theft, which will send a clear signal that all shoplifting is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. But, the BRC adds, this Bill needs to go further and protect all retail staff working in customer facing roles, including delivery drivers, just as the Workers Protection Act does in Scotland.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:
“Seeing incidents of theft or abuse has become an all-too-common part of the shopping experience for many people. While an incident can be over in a matter of seconds, it can have life-long consequences on those who experience it, making them think twice about visiting their local high streets. Criminals are becoming bolder and more aggressive, and decisive action is needed to put an end to it. The Crime and Policing Bill is a crucial step in providing additional protections to retail workers. However, in its current proposed form, it does not afford all retail workers the same protections as those working in Scotland, where delivery drivers are also protected. The Bill must protect everyone in customer facing roles in the industry.”
