Police and Crime Commissioner says shoplifting 'epidemic' is felt in Suffolk
The Co-op says there were 1,325 physical assaults against store workers in 2023
A new report shows the UK is facing an 'out of control shoplifting epidemic', with retail crime similarly on the rise across Suffolk.
As a result, MP’s are being urged to back an upcoming amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, which would make the assault or abuse of a retail worker a specific standalone offence.
"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 £200m 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.
Rachel continued, saying: '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.'
Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore told us he has seen an increase in this behaviour, but that it "must not be tolerated."
He supports the amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill and says he wants to "make sure the law is there so that offenders are caught, prosecuted and if found guilty, properly punished."
He went on to say that shoplifting can damage the economy, as it forces retailers to increase their prices to make up for losses: "It's absolutely fundamental to everyone's well-being, this is particularly important for small shopkeepers - they can't afford to have this any more than anyone else, therefore, it is a drag on the economy and we will all suffer."
On a local level, he revealed Suffolk Police do have plans to ensure crimes such as these are handled appropriately.
For example, he says "2 or 3 years ago" they initiated their "neighbourhood crime teams" that deal with shoplifting.