Retail violence down but not out

Shopworkers’ union USDAW has welcomed the overall fall in shop crime and increased investment by retailers in crime prevention reported by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC’s latest annual survey of retail crime shows an 11% reduction in the number of criminal offences in the sector in 2010 and a 10% cut in incidents of shoplifting. Reported incidents of violence, threats and abuse against shop staff were down by 50% and retailers spent over £210 million on crime prevention measures last year, a 10% increase on 2009.

But while USDAW says it works closely with employers to improve safety, general secretary John Hannett pointed out that there is still “a significant problem of under-reporting which is driven by the myth that shop crime is ‘victimless’ and the belief shared by many shopworkers that little if any effective action will be taken against perpetrators.”

He said that shoplifting was a “major flashpoint” for violence, but added that members suffer most abuse and threats when asking for proof of age ID from customers buying age-restricted products such as alcohol. The union is lobbying the government to improve the regulation of these products. It says it will continue to work closely with the BRC, police and other agencies to reduce all incidents of shop crime to create safer workplaces and ensure offenders are brought to justice.