Retail trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in in the year to March, there were increases in shoplifting across the West Midlands. In the whole of England and Wales, there has been a trend of persistent quarterly increases, with incidents now having more than doubled since the pandemic.
The Office for National Statistics released figures today showing a 24% increase in shoplifting incidents across the West Midlands region. Individual statistics for the region’s constabulary areas are as follows:
- Staffordshire +28%
- Warwickshire +19%
- West Mercia -4%
- West Midlands +35%
Usdaw’s latest annual survey of nearly 9,500 retail staff showed that over three-quarters had suffered verbal abuse and far too many had been threatened or assaulted. Two-thirds of respondents said that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they had experienced were triggered by theft or armed robbery.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary says: “The scale of the epidemic of retail crime in the West Midlands is laid bare in these shocking police recorded crime statistics and Usdaw’s own survey. It is increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order. This is in no way a victimless crime, with weapons and violence used to ensure these criminals are not stopped. Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers.
“We have campaigned along with many retail employers for substantial legislative measures to combat this growing problem, and we are pleased that the Government has introduced the Crime and Policing Bill, with measures to tackle this issue. It has passed all stages in the House of Commons and is now waiting for a second reading in the House of Lords.
“We now look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding for more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas, along with Respect Orders for offenders. It is our hope that these new measures will help give retail workers the respect they deserve.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK’s fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
Crime in England and Wales statistics show that in the year to March 2021 (during the pandemic), there were 228,250 police-recorded incidents of shoplifting. Today’s statistics show a rise of 132% since then to 530,643 by March this year. In the year to March 2024 there were 443,995 recorded shoplifting offences, marking a 20% increase over the last twelve months. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables
Usdaw’s annual survey of 9,481 retail staff found that in the last twelve months:
- 77% have experienced verbal abuse.
- 53% were threatened by a customer.
- 10% were assaulted.
Full report: www.usdaw.org.uk/FFFReport2024
Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shop workers and the Government.
