Retail crime getting worse, data shows

The British Retail Consortium’s 2021 Retail Crime Survey shows there were 455 incidents of violence or abuse towards shopworkers each day in 2019/20, up 7% from 2018/19,

The data reveals that the total cost to retailers of crime and crime prevention was £2.5bn, an increase of 14% on the previous year. The total cost of crime has soared over the past three years, from £0.7bn in 2016/17 to £1.3bn in 2019/20. The most significant part of this was customer theft, which cost companies £935m. This rise comes despite retailers continuing to spend record sums of £1.2bn on crime prevention.

In September 2020, the BRC launched its Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge, calling on politicians to stand with retail workers to support legislation for better protection. The pledge has so far been signed by more than 55 MPs from all major parties. This came after prime minister Boris Johnson told Parliament in 2020, that “we should not tolerate crimes of violence against shopworkers”.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “Will retail workers in England and Wales ever receive the protection they deserve? Despite clear evidence showing the escalation of violence and abuse against retail workers, the government has time and time again chosen not to act.

“These are not mere statistics, those affected are our parents, our partners and our children, all who needlessly suffer, just for doing their job. Many incidents arise as staff carry out their legal duties, including age verification and more recently, implementing Covid safety measures. And, despite retailers spending enormous sums on crime prevention, the situation is only getting worse. Scotland has sent a clear message that the rise in violence and abuse must end, and the rest of the UK must follow their lead.”

Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is joining with the BRC to call for government action to stem a growing tide of violence and abuse against shopworkers.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “This BRC survey is further confirmation of the scale of the problem retail staff face on a daily basis and backs up the findings in Usdaw’s latest research. It has been a terrible time for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and nearly one in ten assaulted. Retail workers, their friends, family and loved ones, are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.

“Despite this overwhelming evidence the government continues to refuse to support a specific law to protect shopworkers, which is backed by the BRC and many retailers. So we are pleased that the Labour frontbench has tabled a protection of shopworkers amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which we hope will be supported in the bill committee.”