Shoplifting 'epidemic' being felt in Peterborough and Rutland, says union branch secretary
The Co-op says there were 1,325 physical assaults against store workers in 2023
Last updated 8th Feb 2024
A new report shows the UK is facing an 'out of control shoplifting epidemic', and retail crime is similarly on the rise across Peterborough and Rutland according to an USDAW representative for the region.
'Retail crime has increased across the board, there is no doubt about that. For the bigger and smaller stores - they're all experiencing high numbers of retail crime', said Rachel Birdsall, Branch Secretary for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW).
It's after an independent report from retail crime criminologist, Dr Emmeline Taylor, revealed that retail crime is all too often dismissed as a petty and victimless crime, despite having serious and far-reaching societal consequences.
Alongside the report, the Co-op has today revealed that, in 2023, it experienced:
• More than 300,000 incidents of shoplifting, abuse, violence and anti-social behaviour (up 44% year on year), equating to nearly 1,000 incidents every day across its 2,400 stores.
• Over 1,325 physical assaults against store workers (up 34% year on year).
• More than 40,000 incidents (up 37%) of anti-social behaviour and abuse.
It's despite the Co-op investing more than ÂŁ200m in recent years in colleague safety and store security, including in the latest interactive CCTV; body-worn cameras; fortified kiosks; dummy (or empty) packaging to deter bulk-theft and, covert and non-covert guarding.
USDAW's Branch Secretary for Peterborough, Lincolnshire and Rutland, Rachel Birdsall, said:
"I visit large format stores that have guards on a permanent basis because they have gangs coming in."
"We have instances in store, where we have young lads coming in and there's an 18-year-old waiting outside on the phone telling them exactly what to take. That young lad is probably 13-14 years old."
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“Neighbourhood crimes including burglary, robbery and theft are down 48% since 2010, but we know crimes like shoplifting must be tackled in order to increase public confidence in policing."
“Progress is being made through a police commitment to prioritise attending the scene of shoplifting instances involving violence against a shop worker, which is an aggravating factor and carries tougher sentences for offenders.”