Retailers 'lost faith in police' amid spike in criminal activity

Independent retailers across the UK are facing stubborn levels of retail crime and alarmingly more retailers are choosing not to report incidents of theft, verbal and physical abuse to police, according to the latest survey conducted by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).

The third bi-annual Retail Crime Survey, completed in September 2024, reveals a concerning picture of escalating theft, persistent verbal abuse, and a worrying uptick in physical assaults on staff.

Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, found that 78.79 per cent of businesses that had experienced theft in the past 12 months reported that the frequency or severity of theft incidents had increased.

However, the survey did reveal that shop theft had reduced slightly in the past year, from 86.25 per cent in September 2023 and 79.27 per cent in March 2024 to 72.83 per cent this autumn.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, commented on the findings and said, "The results of our third crime survey in 18 months are deeply troubling. We're seeing a sustained increase in criminal activity, coupled with reduced police response. Our members are caught in the crossfire, and it's clear that current measures are failing to protect them."

Key findings from the survey include:

1. Verbal abuse remains a persistent issue, with 38.5 per cent of retailers experiencing incidents in the past 12 months, a slight increase from 35.5 per cent in the previous survey.
2. Physical abuse has seen a concerning rise, with 11 per cent of respondents reporting incidents, up from 7.95 per cent in March 2024.
3. Theft continues to be a major problem, with 72.83 per cent of retailers experiencing incidents in the past year. Alarmingly, high-value thefts (£200-£499) have remained high at 15.38 per cent of reported incidents. The value of items stolen has also increased compared to previous months too (March 2024 66.49 per cent of incidents were £100 or more compared to 72.29 per cent in September 2024). Notable changes in items of £100-£199 were up from 9.52 per cent to 15.38 per cent. And items £1,000 to £1,999 were up from 4.76 per cent in March 2024 to 7.69 per cent in September 2024.
4. Cybercrime has seen a significant increase, with 14.6 per cent of retailers reporting incidents, up from 9.4 per cent in the previous survey – a 55 per cent rise.
5. Police response remains inadequate. While 52.8 per cent of reported thefts were attended by police in both surveys, 25 per cent of reported thefts resulted in no police attendance, a slight decrease from 27 per cent in the previous survey, but still a significant concern. Moreover, there was an increase in thefts not being reported to police, rising from 42.86 per cent (March 2024) to 47.06 per cent (September 2024).

The human impact of these statistics is evident in the comments from Bira members.

One shop owner reported, "A customer threw a hammer at me in the shop and physically assaulted me. The police did not take action even though I had CCTV, his reg and his home address."

Another shared, "We have had multiple issues where police haven't attended. One was when a customer shoved me out the way."

Goodacre added, "These are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of incidents and harrowing events that are happening to our indie retailers on a daily basis. The lack of effective action from law enforcement is particularly concerning. When 88.64 per cent of verbal abuse incidents and 77.27 per cent of physical assaults go unreported because retailers have lost faith in the system, we know we're facing a crisis of confidence in our ability to protect our high streets."

The survey also revealed a shift in the types of goods being targeted. One retailer noted, "It seems like it is high value quick sale items which are worse. Not necessities but small items stolen by thieves for quick turnaround such as electronics, Christmas lights and bulbs. It feels like they are stealing to order."

Bira is calling for urgent action from the government and law enforcement agencies to address this growing crisis. The association advocates for improved police response rates and increased presence on high streets, stronger sentencing for retail crime offenders, better use of community banning orders for repeat offenders, and increased funding for rehabilitation programs, particularly for drug and alcohol-related offences.

Goodacre added, "The national retail crime action plan was launched last September and maybe it is too early to judge if it is making a difference. However, we are hearing mixed feedback about the buy-in from individual police forces and that is unacceptable. We have a national problem that merits a national, co-ordinated and consistent response. Bira will continue to work with the Home Office and the police forces to better protect business owners and the people who work in the shops."

Bira will be presenting these findings to the Home Office and police forces across the UK, pushing for immediate action to stem the tide of retail crime and protect the nation's independent retailers.