This continues the trend of persistent quarterly increases after a dramatic decrease during the pandemic.
Shoplifting was decreasing slowly from a 2017 peak and plummeted during the pandemic. While the number of reported incidents haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels yet, they are well on the way after increases in the last five consecutive quarters. Comparing the year-on-year stats on police recorded shoplifting clearly demonstrates the trend:
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| +24% | +23% | -1% | -29% | -2% | -3% | +8% |
Usdaw’s latest annual survey of over 7,500 shopworkers found that 31% of incidents of violence, threats and abuse related to shoplifting, which is not only higher than in 2019 but also more than double the 2016 level.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “This 24% increase in shoplifting is very concerning for our members in retail. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers. 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.
“Our annual survey found that three-quarters of retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. Theft from shops was the trigger for nearly a third of these incidents last year. Particularly concerning is that just over half of those who did the survey said they were not confident that reporting these issues will make any difference.
“Faced with such appallingly high levels of violence and abuse much more needs to be done. There must be better coordination to ensure that government, retail employers, police and the courts work together to help protect shopworkers, giving them the respect they deserve.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 350,000 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
Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables
Final results of the Usdaw 2022 survey, based on 7,752 responses, show that (last year’s results in brackets): 74.26% (89%) were verbally abused, 49.25% (63%) were threatened. 7.92% (12%) had been assaulted. 40.88% said violence, threats and abuse caused them anxiety at work and 29.97% are now considering changing job. Top triggers for abuse: 34% shoplifting and armed robbery, along with 16% age-restricted sales. The full report can be found at: www.usdaw.org.uk/FFFReport2022
| Comparison | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Abuse | 68% | 88% | 89% | 74% |
| Threats | 43% | 61% | 63% | 49% |
| Violence | 5% | 9% | 12% | 8% |
Usdaw’s Freedom from Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shopworkers and the Government. www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion