Retail workers in the UK endure 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse each day, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) survey. While this marks a 20% decline from 2,000 daily cases in 2024, experts emphasize the need for stronger protections amid ongoing fears.
Persistent Threats and Physical Attacks
The survey reveals 118 physical violence incidents daily, with 36 involving weapons—more than one per hour. These include shouted abuse, threats, racist or homophobic slurs, pushes, and shoves. BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson states, “The relentlessness may have eased, but the fear has not disappeared.”
Representing over 200 major retailers like Tesco, Primark, and Sainsbury’s, the BRC highlights that fear has become routine for many of the sector’s three million employees, especially since the pandemic.
Shoplifting Epidemic Fueled by Organized Crime
British retailers recorded 5.5 million shoplifting incidents last year, resulting in nearly £400 million in detected losses. The true number likely exceeds this, as it only counts known thefts. Dickinson notes that much of this stems from organized crime gangs stealing to order, targeting high-value items requested by buyers.
“Serial thieves know when to run, when to threaten, and when to fight,” Dickinson adds. “That is why staff are routinely told not to put their own safety at risk.”
Industry Investments and Police Response
Over the past five years, retailers have spent more than £5 billion on crime prevention, including security guards, CCTV, body-worn cameras, and de-escalation training. Initiatives like Operation Pegasus and the Retail Crime Action Plan have improved collaboration with police.
Police responses are progressing, with more businesses rating support positively. However, Dickinson cautions that violence remains nearly four times higher than pre-pandemic levels. Retailers previously criticized Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley for suggesting shopkeepers underreport crimes.
Hope from Upcoming Legislation
The industry anticipates relief from the Crime and Policing Bill, set for passage soon. Key measures include eliminating the £200 threshold for low-level theft to prompt serious police action and creating a standalone offense for assaulting retail workers, leading to harsher penalties.
Dickinson concludes, “For too many of our three million retail colleagues, fear has too often quietly become part of the job. Feeling safe at work should be a basic expectation.”
