BRC urges PCC candidates to get tough on retail crime as workers face increasing levels of violence and abuse

UK retailers are calling on candidates to commit to three pledges that would support the fight against spiralling retail crime ahead of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections on 2nd May. 

As part of its #GetToughonRetailCrime campaign, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) wants candidates to commit to the following:

• Make retail crime a priority in Police and Crime Plans

• Work with other policing stakeholders to ensure the standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker is used (once introduced) and data on its use is tracked

• Allocate necessary resources for tackling retail crime in their region

On 10th April, the government announced a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker.

The BRC believes that this new legislation should help improve the police response as police will now have the necessary data to understand the scale of the problem and allocate sufficient resource to improve their response to incidents. 

Its latest research shows levels of violence and abuse facing people working in retail skyrocketed across the country to over 1,300 incidents per day in 2022/23, from 870 the year before.

Retail workers finally get the protection they need.

Today, the government announced the introduction of a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker.📜

Watch below to see why today’s landmark announcement was needed and is welcomed by the retail industry 👇 pic.twitter.com/CnAIBvsnnk

— The British Retail Consortium (@the_brc) April 10, 2024

These incidents, which can include everything from threats with weapons and physical assaults to racial slurs, can take a severe toll on the physical and mental health of victims, who must return to their workplace day after day wondering whether they will be targeted.

Shoplifting poses a huge issue to businesses and communities across the country. Last year, losses to theft doubled to £1.8 billion, with 45,000 incidents every day.

This money could be better invested improving the shopping experience and reducing prices for customers. Not only has the number of thefts increased, but thieves are becoming bolder, more aggressive, and more frequently armed with weapons.

Retailers spent a record £1.2 billion on crime prevention measures last year, and the government has signalled its support.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, says: “Inadequate police action has given criminals free rein to steal goods and assault retail colleagues.”

“Newly elected PCCs have a fantastic opportunity to get tough on retail crime through the new standalone offence, and I hope the next wave of PCCs deliver the protections that those working in retail and our communities up and down the country deserve.”