The latest research from NFU Mutual paints a stark picture of life in the UK, where well-protected politicians rarely tread alone after dark. Shop staff, often women working part-time to access the benefits system, face aggressive gangs of teenagers who know they are almost immune from any punishment, plus older thieves often driven by addiction problems.
More than one in 10 retailers say they have been threatened with weapons in the last 12 months as shoplifting reaches record-breaking levels across England and Wales. Should the Police and Courts be doing more? Yes. Should the government reverse its guidelines of not jailing shoplifters, even repeat offenders, if they have an excuse from a pre-published list? Yes. Should security staff employed by retailers be allowed to use reasonable force and pepper/DNA marker spray on violent offenders? Yes.
Will any of those things happen anytime soon? No. Do we really want High Streets where everything of value is security tagged and locked away, or small shops close down replaced by charity shops, vapes and dubious barbers? Apparently most politicians of all the main parties DO want that dystopian scenario for 60-70% of towns and urban areas. If you live in a nice area and are unaware of the reality of dying retail, then might we suggest you browse the JoeFish channel on YouTube.
Here’s the word, let’s be careful out there.
With the latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing shoplifting in England and Wales at its highest since current records began, research from commercial insurer NFU Mutual highlights the ongoing issues retailers are having to deal with on a daily basis.
Almost eight in 10 retailers (79%) surveyed said they had been a victim of crime in the last 12 months and, of those, nearly half had suffered more than three times at the hands of criminals in the same timeframe.
Cases of assault were also a worrying theme among shops up and down the country. Nearly half (43%) had faced verbal assault – the third most common crime suffered – almost one in five said they had experienced physical assault against staff or customers, with a shocking 13% saying they or their employees had been threatened with weapons.
These attacks on businesses are clearly having a detrimental impact, as 16% of those surveyed said they had considered leaving the industry due to retail crime, while almost one in seven (14%) knew businesses that had closed because of the issue.
Crime is also hitting retailers hard in the pocket. The average cost of retail crime in the last 12 months, according to NFU Mutual’s survey, was £53,000 – with one in 20 retailers admitting it had set them back a staggering £500,000 or more.
Zoe Knight, Head of Commercial at NFU Mutual, said: “Theft and criminality are sadly commonplace and regular occurrences for our retailers. We would always encourage businesses to protect themselves where possible – through physical and technological methods – and ensure cover is in place so they are secure should the worst happen.
“Our research shows the shocking amount crime is costing up and down the country but, more than that, the fear these brazen criminals are putting on hard-working retailers and their employees. The fact that one in every five retailers live in fear of theft or violence, with some even having to shut up shop altogether, speaks volumes about the magnitude of the problem.
“Retailers are facing continued challenges in the industry and, for many, this is a way of life and not just a job, with crime striking at the heart of that. It is as important as it ever has been to feel protected in the face of criminality.”
ONS data published last month showed there were 530,643 reported shoplifting offences in the year to March, a 20% increase from the previous year.
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