Official figures show that shoplifting has almost doubled since the pandemic and increased by 23% last year in England and Wales. Usdaw’s latest survey of 9,481 retail staff found that in the last twelve months:
- 77% have experienced verbal abuse.
- 53% were threatened by a customer.
- 10% were assaulted.
- Theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for 66% of these incidents.
Full report: www.usdaw.org.uk/FFFReport2024
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary says: “Usdaw has long campaigned for legislative measures to combat the growing problem of retail crime, theft from shops and the abuse of retail staff. Retail workers are responsible for enforcing various laws around age-restricted sales and it is only right that they have additional protection in law. So, we urge MPs to support the Crime and Policing Bill.
“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.
“Usdaw continues to engage with Government on the Bill to ensure it offers the best possible protections for retail workers. While the Bill clearly protects retail workers working in store, we are concerned that it does not cover supermarket home delivery drivers, who are required to conduct age verification checks before the delivery can be made. This can be a real flashpoint for abuse, threats and violence and they deserve the same protection that their in-store colleagues will have.
“The scale of the epidemic of retail crime has a very direct impact on the viability of businesses, as retailers go to increasing lengths and expense to make their stores secure and safe. Communities are blighted by anti-social behaviour, high streets are blighted by store closures and staff are working in fear of the next incident of abuse, threats or violence. The Crime and Policing Bill provides a great opportunity to make a real difference to the retail industry and workers’ lives.”
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: The latest police recorded incidents of shoplifting figure in the year to September 2024 is 492,914. The equivalent figure in the year to September 2021 was 248,866. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables
Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shop workers and the Government. www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
Crime and Policing Bill 2025: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3938
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion