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The annual crime survey from the Usdaw trade union, meanwhile, found 18% of shopworkers experienced a violent attack in 2023, up from 8% in 2022. Also well documented is the financial impact of crime, which the ACS calculates at £4,946 per store per year.
What is not so well documented is the effect on the mental health of retailers and their staff, an omission we set out to remedy with our latest poll. While admittedly only a relatively small sample of 100 retailers, the results indicate crime is having a huge impact.
More than one-third of those questioned said the psychological damage caused was greater than the financial impact. Nine out of 10 retailers said their mental health had been affected to some degree, with almost four in 10 describing that impact as ‘major’.
And of course, this spills over into retailers’ personal lives. Some felt they constantly needed to monitor their CCTV, even when they were away from the business. Store owners who live above the shop described feeling anxious and vulnerable in their own homes, especially at night.
It is important that the industry continues to campaign for measures to better protect retailers and their staff, and for a more effective response from police forces around the country.
The first priority is to bring down the unacceptably high incidence of shop theft, violence and abuse.
At the same time, we need to remember the victims of this crime epidemic and make sure suitable, accessible support is in place to help them cope with the inevitable after-effects. It’s no good just trotting out the line that “this is not a victimless crime” if we forget about the victims.
David Shrimpton | Editor
Read the April issue of Independent Retail News
