Industry Calls for Tougher Sentences and Standalone Offence for Assaulting Retail Workers

  • Retail bosses from 88 companies demand action over rising retail crime
  • Incidents of violence and abuse towards retail colleagues doubled pre-pandemic levels
  • Retailers demand a standalone offence for assaulting or abusing retail workers with tougher sentences
  • Police forces to record all incidents of retail crime
  • Greater prioritisation of retail crime by police forces across the UK
  • Only 27% of serious retail crimes responded to by police, according to retailers’ data
  • Retail theft at £953m in 12 months to April
  • Total cost of retail crime at £1.76bn for the same period
  • Shoplifting rose by 27% in 10 major cities, according to a separate survey
  • BRC calls for government support and action on retail crime issue

Retail bosses from 88 companies have signed a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, demanding action over rising retail crime rates. The BRC’s 2023 crime survey revealed that incidents of violence and abuse towards retail colleagues had almost doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels, with 867 incidents daily in 2021/22. Retailers are calling for a standalone offence for assaulting or abusing retail workers, tougher sentences for offenders, and police forces to prioritize retail crime. They also want better recording of all incidents. The police failed to respond to 73% of serious crimes reported, with 44% rated as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Retail theft reached £953m in a 12-month period, while crime prevention spending was over £700m. Shoplifting increased by 27% in 10 major cities. BRC CEO Helen Dickinson urges government support for retail workers who kept the nation safe during the pandemic.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the rising rates of retail crime, the demands made by retail bosses to the Home Secretary, and the impact on retail workers. It also includes relevant statistics and quotes from Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the BRC. The article is focused on the main topic without any digressions or unnecessary details.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the increasing rates of retail crime and demands from retailers for a standalone offence for assaulting or abusing retail workers with tougher sentences for offenders. It also highlights the inadequate police response to reported crimes and the cost of retail crime. The article stays on topic and supports its claims with data from surveys and statistics.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: The rising rates of retail crime and its impact on retailers’ spending on crime prevention may affect their financial performance and profitability.
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the increasing issue of retail crime, which has a direct impact on retail companies’ expenses in terms of crime prevention measures and potential losses due to theft. This can influence their overall financial performance and profitability.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event in the text that happened in the last 48 hours. The issue discussed is a significant problem for the retail industry, but it does not meet the criteria of an extreme event.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk