John Mc Donald’s Post

Crime ‘spiralling out of control’ in stores, warns British Retail Consortium Sarah Butler 30 Jan 2025 UK retailers are warning that crime in their stores is “spiralling out of control” with 55,000 thefts a day and violent and abusive incidents rising by 50% last year. More than 70 incidents a day involved a weapon, according to the annual crime survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Verbal and physical attacks, violent threats, and sexual and racial abuse in shops soared to more than 2,000 incidents a day in the year to the end of last August, up from 1,300 the previous year and more than three times the 2020 level. The trade body’s report, based on a sample from retailers representing more than 1.1 million employees, found theft had reached an all-time high with more than 20m incidents during the year, 25% more than the year before. It said this had cost retailers £2.2bn with many more incidents linked to organised crime as gangs systematically targeted stores across the country. The rise in shoplifting has partly been seen as the result of a squeeze on household finances amid high inflation in recent years, but retailers said the uptick was down to organised gangs stealing to order. They said retail had been seen as a soft target since the 2014 law change in England and Wales which has meant those stealing goods worth less than £200 are usually spared any jail time. Paul Gerrard, the public affairs director at the Co-op, told the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee inquiry into shoplifting that a 44% rise in retail crime it experienced last year was down to “people coming into stores with wheelie bins or a builder’s bag to steal the entire confectionery section or spirits or meat section”. Retailers said a lack of priority by police was also to blame as officers often failed to attend, even when private security staff had apprehended someone with stolen goods. Major retailers have also been accused of fuelling the rise in crime by cutting back the number of staff in stores, including on security, to keep costs down. They have also turned to self-service checkouts and self-scanning devices which are more open to abuse. However, the BRC said retailers had spent £1.8bn on measures to combat crime including CCTV, additional security guards, anti-theft devices and body-worn cameras, up from £1.2bn the previous year. [...] Operation Pegasus, under which 15 large retailers began working with the police under the last government to help tackle organised retail crime, partly by sharing CCTV images, has also had some success but was set up only to deal with activity that crossed police boundaries. [...]

Retail crime is on the rise, and with it violent and abusive incidents towards shopworkers. Is the Retail Crime Action Plan enough to tackle this! or do you need our help to "Target Strengthen Your Store" from Safetell Ltd? #staffprotection #securityscreens #securitydoors #cashprotection #retail [email protected] It’s 10 years since the police walked away from retail crime. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 meant any shoplifting below £200 in value did not need to be investigated. At least that’s how the police interpreted it. The result has been soaring retail theft, violence and abuse towards shopworkers, made only worse by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. But terrifying scenes captured on CCTV shamed the ex-government into action, resulting in the launch of the Retail Crime Action Plan last October – a government strategy aimed at bringing together retailers and police to tackle the rise of shoplifting and the often violent incidents that come with it at last. So one year on, what difference has the plan made, if any? Is the police finally taking retail crime seriously? And what more needs to be done on both sides to crack down on this plague? One thing is for sure: the statistics are criminal: according to the BRC’s Retail Crime Survey 2024, shop theft more than doubled to 16.7 million incidents in 2023, while acts of violence and abuse towards staff – often triggered by encounters with thieves – were up 50% to 1,300 incidents a day. Shopworkers have been spat on, threatened with HIV-infected needles, held at knifepoint, followed home and more, the survey found. Yet police have consistently ignored retail incidents, with 61% of retailers rating police responses as poor or very poor, up from 44% the previous year, the BRC survey found. This lack of action also makes retailers reluctant to report incidents, says BRC assistant director of regulatory affairs Graham Wynn. “And if the police do respond, there are seldom adequate consequences for perpetrators.”

As retailers grapple with shrink and theft, the data used to measure these issues is becoming increasingly unreliable, and we're left with more questions than answers. While organized retail crime, shoplifting, and cargo theft remain concerns, self-checkout policies, locked merchandise, and loss prevention strategies are evolving in response. With fewer retailers reporting shrink data and changing public policy, what’s next in the fight against retail crime? #RetailCrime #Shrink #LossPrevention #RetailTrends #OrganizedRetailCrime #RetailNews

RETAIL CRIME CONTINUES TO BE A HOT TOPIC IN 2025 Crime in general remains a top concern, according to a report the National Retail Federation released last month, a survey of loss prevention and security executives at 164 mid-size to large retailers. Such executives at more than 82 of those companies agreed that certain issues, all related to crime, were more of a concern than they had been a year before, including: shoplifting, return fraud, #organizedretailcrime, repeat offenses and theft related to the in-store pickup or return of merchandise ordered online. https://lnkd.in/gVSnczrB #ORC #retailcrime #theft #fraud #RetailVoices #topretailexpert Daphne Howland #nrf #lossprevention

As organized retail crime continues to impact stores, customers, and employees at alarming rates, data-driven site selection has become more critical than ever. With California’s governor recently signing into law significant legislation to crack down on property and retail crime, and the National Retail Federation pushing for the passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), retailers are seeking ways to mitigate risks associated with new and existing store locations.

Australian retailers are uniting to tackle retail crime at the industry-wide Retail Crime Symposium on 18 July 2024 in Melbourne. In an industry first collaboration, Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have joined forces to host the 2024 event, bringing together police, government, SDA union, Crimestoppers and retailers large and small from across the nation to tackle one of the sector’s most significant issues. ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the continued prevalence of retail crime demands a united front from authorities and industry. “The Retail Crime Symposium is about bringing together Australia’s retailers, police and politicians to work together, identify trends and devise strategies to reduce retail crime. Joining forces with the NRA allows us to both pool our resources and expertise to tackle the scourge of retail crime more effectively." National Retail Association Acting CEO Lindsay Carroll said the timing of the Symposium is important. “The physical, financial and mental health toll of retail crime on our retail teams is not going away. After intense customer aggression through the pandemic years and beyond, for some team members the fear and apprehension getting even worse." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eMsD2ePd Tickets for the event are now available for purchase at https://lnkd.in/etqHPgES

The British Retail Consortium report confirms what we’ve been hearing from businesses for some time—shoplifting and retail crime continue to rise - putting livelihoods and people at risk. But in places where businesses, police, and stakeholders work together, we’re seeing real progress. Through our work locally with retailers we’ve seen firsthand the impact these crimes have on businesses and their staff. Theft isn’t just about financial loss; it’s often linked to organised crime and too frequently comes with threats and violence, which is never acceptable. In #London, we are working together for better reporting, a targeted police response and robust intelligence sharing, and these efforts are making a difference. Hannah Wadey CEO said “Through our work locally with retailers and police, we’ve seen how targeted action can make a change. In areas where we come together, we’re seeing positive results—more reporting, stronger responses, and a clear message that crime won’t be tolerated”. The Safer Business Network team will continue to encourage our members to report these crimes. With increased reporting we can continue to build a true picture of the problem and secure the action needed to tackle it. For more information about our services and training click here https://lnkd.in/dpZNNtyy #RetailCrime #Shoplifting #ShopworkerSafety #SaferBusiness #ZeroTolerance Adam Ratcliffe Rachelle O'Sullivan Mohammed Qazi Taylor Jade Mann Balazs Csanadi Patrick Holdaway Professor Emmeline Taylor PhD Darren Watson Helen Clayton BA (Hons) Michael Pearce GCGI MBCI National Association of Business Crime Partnerships Ltd NBCS - National Business Crime Solution National Business Crime Centre Business Crime Hub, Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police City of London Police Association of Convenience Stores British BIDs https://lnkd.in/eqAVsS6J

Retail crime incidents soar to more than 2,000 a day, BRC survey shows Retailers face new challenges as they look for solutions to an unprecedented surge in retail crime, according to British Retail Consortium Annual Crime Survey. Read more: https://ow.ly/gykL50UQ0Vi #RetailCrime

Shoplifting reached an all-time high with 20 million incidents last year, according to the British Retail ConsortiumRetail crime has reached record levels and is “spiralling out of control”, with shop workers increasingly facing threats, assaults and racial and sexual abuse, a survey has found. More than 2,000 daily incidents of ­violence and abuse were reported across the UK in the year to April 2024, up from 1,300 the year before. Theft reached an “all-time high” with 20 million incidents last year, costing retailers £2.2 billion, up £400 million on the 2023 figures, according to the British Retail Consortium, a trade association for UK retail businesses

The repercussions for shoplifting or deceiving stores may be perceived as severe by some, yet justified by others. Upon examining various incidents and their implications, it becomes evident that certain crucial aspects were overlooked, leading to the prolonged operation of dishonest individuals. Turning a blind eye to shoplifting and deception not only harms the affected store financially but also fosters a culture of tolerance for unethical behaviour. By neglecting to address instances of shoplifting or deceit, businesses inadvertently condone such actions, signalling to perpetrators that their misconduct will go unchecked. This lack of accountability can embolden individuals to continue engaging in illegal activities, further eroding the integrity of the retail environment. Additionally, the financial losses incurred by stores as a result of theft and deception can have a detrimental impact on their operations, potentially leading to increased prices for honest customers to offset these losses. It is imperative for businesses to prioritise the enforcement of policies and procedures aimed at deterring and addressing shoplifting and deception. Implementing robust security measures, conducting regular audits, and providing employee training on identifying and responding to suspicious behaviour are essential steps in safeguarding the interests of the store and maintaining a fair and ethical retail environment. By taking a proactive stance against dishonest practices, businesses can uphold their reputation, protect their bottom line, and uphold standards of integrity that benefit both the organisation and its patrons. Robberies: https://lnkd.in/gbn2mDAd Watch us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3p9YAD6 #quelltraining #workplaceviolence #workplaceviolenceprevention #personalsafety #retail