Crime impact findings underline need for greater protection for retailers and staff

Commenting on the report, Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) chief executive Pete Cheema said: “These figures are utterly shocking and show the devastating impact of crime on not only retailers, but also their families and the wider community.

“I want to commend Independent Retail News for highlighting this research and continuing to raise awareness about the true cost to people’s wellbeing and their livelihoods.

“Retail crime is now out of control. Many people working in convenience stores are now forced to choose between going to work and facing regular abuse, threatening behaviour and potentially violence or trying to find another income. It’s no wonder that many feel they have nowhere left to turn.

“It’s not acceptable, but it is fast becoming the norm and the situation is only getting worse. That’s why ministers need to act now.

“As confirmed by this study, every incident can have a lasting impact that could take years for people to recover from.

“Our police and justice system urgently needs more resources, and an emergency strategy must be implemented to tackle the growing rate of retail crime.”

Paddy Lillis, general secretary of the Usdaw shopworkers’ union, said: “Usdaw’s latest survey results show that seven in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.

“In addition, our survey results from last year reported that nearly a third of retail staff considered changing their jobs and 41% felt anxious about work, all because of high levels of verbal abuse, threats and assaults.

“Faced with such high levels of aggression from customers, it is of little surprise that so many were considering changing their job to escape the abuse.

“Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and too many shopworkers suffer all too often.

“Alongside leading retail industry figures, Usdaw continues to call for new legislation to make it a specific offence to abuse or assault a retail worker.

“We won that campaign in Scotland, which has now led to more than 500 convictions.

“Shopworkers across the whole of the UK deserve the same legal backup as their colleagues in Scotland.”

Mandi Leonard, welfare director at industry charity GroceryAid, said: “We recognise the challenges independent store owners face every day and the impact that increased levels of crime is having on them and their employees.

“GroceryAid offers free and confidential emotional support 24/7, 365 days a year, including our Workplace Critical Incident service to support any grocery colleague impacted by a robbery or violent crime at their business premises.

“For immediate emotional support from a qualified counsellor, colleagues can call our free and confidential Helpline on 08088 021 122. Further information about our Workplace Critical Incident service can be found on our website.”

On Friday the Association of Convenience Stores described the findings of the Independent Retail News report as “harrowing”, while the Federation of Independent Retailers said they were “grim reading, but not unexpected”.

Read the full report here