Amid a disturbing rise in retail crime and abuse faced by those working in shops, PM Rishi Sunak’s new proposal to stop shoplifting will be welcome news for many gift retailers who have, and continue to be, targeted by shoplifters.
Assaulting a shop worker is now a separate criminal offence in England and Wales, carrying a maximum sentence of six months. Perpetrators could also receive an unlimited fine and be banned from the shop where they committed the offence.
The new law aims to send a clear message to criminals that “enough is enough” when it comes to stealing from local businesses or abusing shop staff, with the PM emphasising that shops must be free from threats of crime or abuse.
So will the government’s new measures deter criminals?. “For some time, Bira, along with the wider retail sector, has been calling for more protection for people who work in shops,” stated ceo Andrew Goodacre. “We are therefore delighted with the announcement, especially as we are dealing with a significant increase in retail crime.
“Bira, and the entire retail community, appreciate this vital first step,” continued Andrew. “However, while we’re encouraged by the government’s commitment to tackle this unacceptable abuse, these figures underscore the need for real reform and resources to ensure shopkeepers feel protected.”
The need for action is underscored by Bira’s 2024 retail crime survey which revealed that 35.5% of respondents experienced verbal abuse from individuals in their shops, though this marked a 7.5 percentage point decrease from six months previously. Alarmingly, 66% of those subjected to verbal abuse chose not to report it.
For incidents reported to police, 29% indicated authorities did not attend the scene. And of cases where police did respond, 57% did not lead to prosecution– an increase in non-prosecution levels compared to the previous survey.
Physical attacks and threats remain prevalent too. Nearly 8% of shopkeepers experienced violence, including threats with weapons such as needles and knives. A concerning 70% did not report the physical assaults to police. Of those reporting physical abuse, 62.5% saw no prosecutions while 25% of calls for help did not result in a police visit.
Bira data shows almost half of retail workers feel unsafe at work, with 90% having experienced physical or verbal abuse from customers. Shockingly, 41% of retail workers say this happens weekly, which is up from 34% previously, with the Association saying that new law is a step in the right direction.
Retail Trust too, has welcomed the new law, but asks if it is enough. “The simple answer is, on its own, probably not, which is why there needs to be a cross industry and society push to face into this worrying trend,” says ceo Chris Brook-Carter. “We still encourage retail workers experiencing abuse to report it to their managers,” he continues. “Retailers themselves need to ensure they have the right support for their colleagues, and systems and policies in place to record and report to the police. And our police forces must prioritise dealing with these crimes.”
Adds Chris: “Currently, one in four colleagues don’t report incidents. More than two thirds said they don’t think it will help, nearly a quarter said they had been put off by a previously unhelpful response from the police, and over a quarter said they didn’t know how to respond to or report abusive incidents.
Under the new law, serial offenders could be forced to wear tags so their movements can be tracked. Some £50m will be spent on facial recognition technology. Dedicated facial recognition units will be used in high streets to catch perpetrators and prevent shoplifting. Police have been told to check more CCTV images against police databases.
In more serious cases, offenders found guilty of grievous bodily harm will face jail sentences. But anyone convicted of the new offence would not routinely go to prison. The Sentencing Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, would mean sentences of 12 months or less would be suspended and served in the community, although a prison sentence could be imposed in exceptional circumstances. The government has promised reforms to free up prison space in response to overcrowding due to tougher sentences and court backlogs.
Top: A tougher new law has been brought in by the government to protect retail workers.
