Retail trade union Usdaw has said it is “deeply concerned” by new statistics showing a rise in shoplifting in the South East.
Figures released by The Office for National Statistics this week show that in the year to September 2024, there were significant increases in shoplifting across all South East constabulary areas.
In the whole of England and Wales, there has been a trend of persistent quarterly increases, with incidents now having doubled since the pandemic.
Figures showed a 20% increase in shoplifting incidents across South East constabulary areas, with Thames Valley seeing a 35% spike.
Interim figures from Usdaw’s own annual survey of over 4,000 retail staff showed that 17% of retail workers suffered a violent attack last year, compared to 8% in 2022.
Seven in 10 respondents said that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they’d experienced were triggered by theft or armed robbery.
The British Retail Consortium has published its annual crime report, which shows that: retail violence and abuse increased over 50% to more than 2,000 incidents a day in 2024, losses from customer theft reached a record £2.2 billion in 2023/24, and record crime levels were despite retailers spending £1.8 billion on prevention.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “The scale of the epidemic of retail crime is laid bare in these shocking police recorded crime statistics and the BRC report.
“Crime has a very direct impact on the viability of stores, as retailers go to increasing lengths and expense to make them secure and safe.
“Communities are blighted by anti-social behaviour and store closures. Staff are working in fear of the next incident of abuse, threats or violence.”
“It is increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order. This is in no way a victimless crime, with weapons and violence used to ensure these criminals are not stopped.
“Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers.
“Usdaw’s survey of over 4,000 retail workers found that 70% had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by theft and armed robbery. So this increase in shoplifting is hugely concerning.
“We have campaigned along with the BRC and many retail employers for substantial legislative measures to combat this growing problem, and we are pleased that the Government will be introducing the Crime and Policing Bill, with measures to tackle this issue.
“We now look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding for more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas, along with Respect Orders for offenders.
“It is our hope that these new measures will help give retail workers the respect they deserve.”
