Shoplifting Doubles During Pandemic, Calls for Legal Action Grow Louder

  • Retail staff and employers call for protection against violence and abuse
  • Shoplifting has doubled since the pandemic
  • Usdaw and NIRC seek support for a Scottish-style protection law in Northern Ireland
  • 18% of shop workers suffered violent attacks last year, up from 8% in 2022
  • 60% of respondents experienced violence or threats due to shoplifting or armed robbery
  • Record spending on crime prevention by retailers hasn’t helped
  • Physical assaults against retail workers at an all-time high
  • Separate criminal offence needed for greater visibility, awareness, and prioritisation of the issue

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) and the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) have jointly called for urgent action to protect retail workers from violence and abuse amid a significant increase in retail crime. Crime statistics from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reveal that shoplifting has more than doubled since the pandemic. In a letter to Naomi Long MLA, the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland, Usdaw and NIRC are seeking Stormont support for a Scottish-style protection law for shop workers, which is currently only applicable in England and Wales. Usdaw’s annual survey of over 5,500 retail staff across the UK showed that 18% experienced violent attacks last year, compared to 8% in 2022. Six out of ten respondents said incidents of violence, threats, and abuse were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery. The British Retail Consortium’s crime survey also revealed similar results despite ‘record’ spending on crime prevention by retailers. Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, stated: ‘It is deeply disturbing to see a doubling in theft from shops. Shoplifting has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers.’ He added that a separate criminal offence would ensure greater visibility, awareness of the scale of the problem, prioritisation and resourcing from the police, certainty from courts, and send a clear message to the public that attacks on retail workers are unacceptable. It will also allow tracking of cases through the criminal justice system. ‘Retail workers in Scotland already have protection from a separate, standalone criminal offence, while those in England and Wales are set to receive similar protections.’ Neil Johnston, NIRC director, urged politicians to consider the scale of the issue and act accordingly.

Factuality Level: 9
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the increase in retail crime and the call for action from Usdaw and NIRC to protect retail workers. It cites relevant statistics and quotes from key figures in the industry. The only potential issue is that it assumes readers are familiar with the Scottish-style protection of shop workers’ law, but this can be easily understood by a quick search.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the increase in shoplifting and violence against retail workers in Northern Ireland and calls for action from the government to protect them. It includes statistics and quotes from relevant sources, but it could benefit from more analysis or context on the broader implications of this issue.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Retail sector
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses an increase in shoplifting and violence against retail workers, which can impact the retail industry’s financial performance and may lead to increased security costs. This could affect companies’ profits and potentially their stock prices.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk