Over the summer convenience food retailer Co-op Group reported that nearly two-thirds (63%) of retail crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders, with drug or alcohol addictions and local organised criminal gangs among the main drivers of offending. Official statistics show that shoplifting has increased by 25% in England and Wales, with a 21% uplift in Scotland.
 
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Retail crime is on the increase and there appears to be further evidence of the involvement of organised crime gangs. It is very disturbing to hear that there is also a link to people trafficking. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. Theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers.
 
“The latest Usdaw annual survey of shopworkers found that two-thirds of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. Six in ten of these incidents were triggered by theft from shops. Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers.
 
“Regrettably the Government is not delivering the change we need to tackle retail crime. They are failing to change the perception that theft from shops has effectively been decriminalised. Issuing fixed penalty notices for shop thefts under £200 has led to fewer crimes being investigated and prosecuted. Fewer uniformed officers patrolling shopping areas gives criminals more confidence.
 
“Conservative MPs repeatedly voted down a protection of workers law, which already exists in Scotland. Labour will seek to amend the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill to strengthen the law to protect shopworkers from violence, threats and abuse. I hope Government ministers and Tory MPs will end their opposition, do the right thing and help our members secure the protection they deserve.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
 
Retailers Against Crime: https://www.retailersagainstcrime.org
 
Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables
 
Criminal Justice Bill 2023: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3511
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion