UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK retailers report a surge in crime, with 55,000 daily thefts and violence up 50%. Industry experts urged urgent reforms to tackle the growing threat.
Retailers across Britain report a sharp increase in in-store crime, highlighting 55,000 thefts daily and a rise in violent and abusive incidents over the past year.
What did the British Retail Consortium say about the crime ratio in retail stores?
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), over 70 daily incidents involved a weapon.
The BRC revealed that shops reported more than 2,000 daily incidents of verbal, physical, and violent harassment by the end of August, a significant increase from the previous year and more than triple the 2020 data.
The report from the BRC disclosed that violence and abuse against shopworkers increased by 50%, with more than 2,000 incidents occurring per day on average.
The trade body’s findings, based on a sample of retailers employing over 1.1 million people, showed that theft incidents surged to a record 20 million, a 25% increase from the previous year. This surge resulted in £2.2bn in losses, with many incidents linked to organized crime, as gangs targeted stores nationwide.
It reported that only 10% of incidents of violent and abusive attacks saw a police response.
What did retailers say about the surge in shoplifting?
Retailers argue that the rise in shoplifting is majorly driven by organized gangs targeting stores, taking benefit of the 2014 law change, which limits prison sentences for those caught stealing goods worth under £200, turning stores into major targets for these criminals.
As reported by the Guardian, retailers voiced concerns over the police’s inadequate response, which is a key factor in these thefts. They noted that officers often do not attend when private security has already apprehended shoplifters with stolen items.
What did Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC say about retail crime?
Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive, stated
“Retail crime continues to spiral out of control. Retail staff have been spat on, racially abused, and threatened with machetes.”
She added,
“Every day that this continues, criminals are getting bolder and more aggressive. We owe it to the three million hardworking people working in retail to bring the epidemic of crime to heel.”
How did Paul Gerrard explain the 44% rise in retail crime?
Paul Gerrard, the Co-op’s public affairs director, spoke to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, revealing that a 44% increase in retail crime last year was driven by “people coming into stores with wheelie bins or a builder’s bag to steal the entire confectionery section or spirits or meat section.”
Mr. Gerrard stated that intelligence-sharing schemes have improved police engagement, noting a 66% rise in attendance in his chain’s experience last year. He revealed that before October 2023, the police were responding to only two out of every ten reported crimes.
Paul Gerrard added,
“In most cases, we had to let the offender go… now police are turning up more, which is helping reduce offending.”
How is the government addressing the rise in retail crime?
To tackle the increase in retail crime, the government launched a 2023 program, offering police clear directions to focus on violent crimes and cases with detained suspects. The initiative also established collaboration between retailers, the Home Office, and the police to address organized shoplifting gangs and repeat offenders.