This continues the trend of persistent quarterly increases since the pandemic, with the figures now having risen to their highest level in 20 years.
Usdaw’s latest annual survey of over 5,500 retail staff showed that 18% of shop workers suffered a violent attack last year, compared to 8% in 2022. Six in 10 respondents said that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they’d experienced were triggered by shoplifting or armed robbery. This increase in assaults comes during an epidemic of retail crime with official stats and reports from retailers showing significant increases in theft from shops.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers. 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. This 30% increase in shoplifting is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning.
“The scale of assaults, abuse and threats towards shop workers and extent of the retail crime epidemic has been a disgrace for many years. Usdaw has long called for action that includes a standalone offence for assaulting a shop worker, which was vehemently opposed by Conservative MPs on many occasions, until they made a last-minute U-turn before the election that was too late to take any action.
“The Tory dither and delay has led to thousands of shop workers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. We are delighted to now have a new Labour Government that has already included key measures in their legislative programme announced in last week’s King’s Speech. The last Parliament ended with both sides agreeing that legislation is needed, so we hope that consensus continues.
“We look forward to Labour delivering a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding more uniformed officers patrolling shopping areas along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.”
Voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments shop workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
- “Man spat on me when I confronted him for trying to steal coffee from us. Get drunk people who try to steal, swearing at myself and other colleagues.”
- “Regular shoplifter threatened me and another staff member, said not to try anything because he had a knife.”
- “Shoplifter went to hit me, and another said they were going to cut my throat. Had a band of shoplifters coming in being aggressive, rude and threatening.”
- “Abuse from youths on a daily basis - threats and violence from shoplifters under the influence of drink and drugs.”
- “Challenged a thief and was pushed and swung at. A shoplifter punched the window next to me and said it would be my face next time.”
- “Involved in an armed robbery and attacked with a machete. Had items of stock thrown at me by customers.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and 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
Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables:
Usdaw annual Freedom from Fear survey report: www.usdaw.org.uk/FFFReport2023
Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/6
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/X @UsdawUnion