Unions say there's a Shoplifting 'epidemic' across Lincolnshire

The Co-op says there were 1,325 physical assaults against store workers in 2023 UK wide

Published 9th 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 Lincolnshire - according to an USDAW representative for the area.

'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, Lincolnshire 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.

There's also been a rise in assaults

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.

Large gangs can target the large "format" stores

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.

'I visit large format stores that have guards on a permanent basis because they have gangs coming in,' Rachel said.

'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.'

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