A recent survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Opinium has revealed that nearly a quarter (24%) of the UK population have witnessed shoplifting incidents in the past 12 months, equating to over 16 million individuals.
Additionally, 23% of customers reported observing physical or verbal abuse directed at shop staff, including racial or sexual abuse, physical assaults, or threats involving weapons.
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Regional disparities in witnessed incidents
The survey highlighted significant regional variations in the prevalence of these incidents.
Nottingham emerged as a hotspot, with 32% of respondents witnessing shoplifting, followed by London at 29%, Southampton at 28%, and Leeds at 26%. Conversely, Plymouth and Belfast reported the lowest figures, with 12% and 13% respectively.
In terms of abuse towards shop staff, London led with 30% of customers witnessing such incidents, closely followed by Nottingham and Liverpool at 29%, and Manchester at 27%.
Escalating retail crime statistics
The UK has experienced record levels of retail crime, with over 20 million theft incidents reported last year, averaging approximately 55,000 thefts daily. Incidents of violence and abuse have surged by 50%, reaching over 2,000 reports per day.
The financial impact on retailers is substantial, with crime-related losses amounting to £4.2 billion last year.
This includes £2.2 billion attributed to shoplifting and an additional £1.8 billion invested in preventive measures such as CCTV installations, increased security personnel, anti-theft devices, and body-worn cameras.
Government response and legislative measures
In response to the escalating retail crime rates, the government is introducing the Crime and Policing Bill, which proposes several measures aimed at enhancing the safety of retail workers.
Key provisions include the removal of the £200 threshold for ‘low-level’ theft, thereby signalling that all instances of shoplifting are unacceptable and will be prosecuted accordingly.
The Bill also introduces a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers, aiming to improve the visibility of such crimes and ensure appropriate allocation of police resources.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the Bill’s current scope, as it does not extend protections to all customer-facing roles, such as delivery drivers, unlike the Workers Protection Act in Scotland.
The BRC and retail workers’ unions continue to advocate for comprehensive protections for all individuals in customer-facing positions, emphasising the need for decisive action to address the rising trend of retail crime and ensure the safety and well-being of retail staff across the UK.
