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Network Journal 2007 Issue 6 Nov/Dec |
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Retail Crime Survey: BRC report paints a violent picture
The value of goods stolen from shops is at a ten year high and violent acts against retail staff have risen 50 per cent in a year according to employers’ group the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) 2007 Retail Crime Survey.
It is the increasing human cost that is of greatest concern to retailers. The survey reveals the alarming rise in violence aimed at shopworkers.
Many retailers are extremely aggrieved that retail crime is treated so lightly. This has led to under reporting of incidents, especially among smaller retailers who believe retail crime is not taken seriously by police or judiciary and reporting it achieves nothing.
The BRC survey shows, compared with last year, incidents of physical violence rose 50 per cent while threats of violence more than doubled and the number of incidents per employee rose by a third.
British Retail Consortium director general Kevin Hawkins said: "Last year shop staff were subjected to around half a million incidents of abuse or violence in their work places and retailers clocked up even greater losses to theft. It's clear the current approach is not working.
"The Government and law enforcers must stop believing retail crime is victimless and committed by harmless petty criminals. Most shop thieves are driven by drug addiction. They are certainly responsible for other crimes. They have a significant impact on our communities.
"The Government must recognise retailers are a valuable asset to our communities and that shopworkers are citizens within those communities, worthy of protection. Not just part of a large industry that can go on taking this annual beating."
The BRC says The Sentencing Advisory Panel's proposals to remove custodial sentences for shoplifting and the fact that business crime, let alone retail crime, is not recorded separately both reinforce the notion that retail crime is unimportant.
Violence, threats and abuse: The statistics
|
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
| Physical assaults |
16,900 |
18,900 |
21,500 |
10,800 |
16,200 |
| Threats of violence |
18,900 |
126,900 |
51,300 |
18,900 |
43,092 |
| Verbal abuse |
21,500 |
62,100 |
83,700 |
43,200 |
40,608 |
| Total |
57,300 |
207,900 |
156,500 |
72,900 |
99,900 |
Based on reported incidents. Source: BRC Retail Crime Survey 2006/7/7
www.brc.org.uk
www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns/freedom_from_fear
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