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Authorities are being encouraged to implement stricter measures against assaults on employees in the retail sector, as incidents of theft and aggression towards store workers reach unprecedented levels.
After Co-op reported a total of over 300,000 occurrences of theft, harassment, physical altercations, and disruptive behavior in its stores last year, the number of assaults rose by 33% to surpass 1,300. Co-op is the fifth largest food retailer in the UK, operating more than 2,500 stores of various sizes, including local, convenience, and medium-sized locations.
A study requested by Co-op and written by Emmeline Taylor, a criminology professor at City, University of London, outlined a 10-step strategy to combat the rise in crime, violence, intimidation, and abuse.
Despite implementing over £200m in preventative measures in recent years to ensure the safety of its stores and communities, The Co-op reported a rise in crime.
According to Matt Hood, the managing director of Co-op Food, there is a concerning trend of repeat thefts from our stores by habitual offenders. This not only results in significant loss of products, but also poses potential dangers due to the possibility of funding addictions.
“Engaging in crime is a chosen profession for certain individuals – it is not minor offenses, and it certainly has victims. It is crucial that Members of Parliament do not neglect the well-being of shop employees and instead pass the amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, which will provide my colleagues with the necessary protection they deserve.”
The act of assaulting a store employee is a proposed change to the Criminal Justice Bill that will be discussed in parliament.
According to Professor Taylor, the police in England and Wales have failed to effectively control and address the widespread and serious issue of acquisitive crime. As a result, retailers have also lost trust in both the police and the overall criminal justice system.
“Through proactive measures against frequent and impactful retail crimes, the police and retail sector can collaborate to establish more secure communities for residents, employees, and shoppers.”
The number of assaults at Co-op rose by 33% to over 1,300 in the previous year.
The Office for National Statistics released data last month indicating that the number of shoplifting incidents recorded last year reached the highest amount in 20 years.
In the period of September 2022 to September 2023, England and Wales saw an increase in recorded offenses to over 402,000, compared to 304,459 in the previous year.
This is the first instance in which the police have recorded over 400,000 incidents since records were first kept in 2002. The previous highest number was 382,643, which was recorded in the period ending March 2018.
The alarming statistics were revealed as the ongoing cost of living crisis continued to affect the entire nation.
According to a recent survey, the majority of people (84%) believe that this January will be the most financially challenging one yet, mainly due to increased expenses and holiday shopping.
The research, conducted by Nationwide, also discovered that energy expenses and additional debt were contributing factors in individuals’ financial situations.
The BRC, an organization that represents businesses and shops throughout the United Kingdom, has urged the government to implement stricter measures to address theft and violence occurring in retail stores.
Graham Wynn, the BRC’s assistant director of business regulation, stated that shoplifting is not a crime without consequences. It causes retailers to lose nearly £1 billion annually, which could be put towards lowering prices for customers.
Retailers are diligently addressing this problem by investing large sums of money in security personnel, surveillance systems, security tags, and other measures to prevent crime.
“We require more intervention from law enforcement as criminals will persist in stealing without a strong deterrent.”
Earlier, the government expressed its dedication towards addressing the issues of shoplifting and violence towards retail employees.
The website independent.co.uk is the source.
