Retail Crime Survey released

21 Mar 2019

British Retail Consortium publishes the latest data around crime's cost to the sector.

The British Retail Consortium has announced the results of its latest Retail Crime Survey today. The survey, which is conducted annually, pinpoints the cost of crime to retail businesses in the UK.

It focuses on retailler spend associated with tackling crime, levels of theft, fraud, and risk to staff. As suggested by the survey and reported by the BRC, "Violence remains a key issue, this year".

Some key statistics to note from the survey findings: 

1) On average, 115 Retail Staff are attacked every day

2) Customer theft is up by 31% and costs £700m annually

3) Total cost to the sector is nearly £2 billion each year

Risk to personnel through aggression, whether specifically affecting lone workers, or the personal safety of all staff in the retail environment, gets a particular mention from Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium:

“Violence against employees remains one of the most pressing issues retailers face, yet once again we have seen an increase in the overall number of incidents. Such crimes harm not just hardworking employees, but also on their families and communities. No one should go to work fearing threats and abuse."

“We hope this report will act as a catalyst for Police and Crime Commissioners around the country to take action. Retail crime should be explicitly addressed by Police and Crime Plans. Furthermore, Parliament must play its part in stemming this tide of crime by creating a specific criminal offence to protect retail employees from assault at work, as has been done for emergency workers.”

To download the survey in full, please click here.

Source: British Retail Consortium, The £1.9bn Cost Of Retail Crime, 21/03/19