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11/10/2006
UK shoplifting soars despite improved security
The British Retail Consortium's (BRC) 2006 Retail Crime Survey has revealed that shoplifting has soared by 70% since 2000.
The survey, sponsored by ADT, shows crime cost retailers �2.1bn last year and �13.26bn since 2000. Over the same period the number of shoplifting incidents rose 70% despite the industry investing more than �4.3bn in crime prevention, with the �average� shoplifting incident costing a store around �149.
The report showed that criminals are increasingly targeting shops, with police priorities elsewhere and soft penalties failing to provide a deterrent.
As the number of shoplifting incidents increases so too does the threat of violence against staff. Almost two-thirds of violent incidents in stores occur when staff attempt to detain criminals or protect property from theft.
The BRC is calling on the Government to reject proposals that would see prison removed as a penalty for shoplifting, even for the worst repeat offenders. The BRC also believes the police should make retail crime a higher priority.
Pointing out that retail crime is not victimless, the BRC believes the Government's failure to provide enough prison capacity should not be used as an excuse for treating retail crime as trivial.
BRC Director General Kevin Hawkins said: "The huge increase in the number of shoplifting incidents is extremely worrying. It is having a very serious financial impact and is putting the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers at risk.
"Soft penalties and poor enforcement are to blame. Retailers are spending millions of pounds on their own crime prevention as well as contributing �4.5 billion a year in business rates. They are entitled to the support of government and police but at the moment they are not getting it."
The BRC report shows crime has a proportionately bigger impact on small and medium sized enterprise (SME) retailers than their larger counterparts.
The Consortium believes this is due in part to the lack of resources they have to allocate to security systems and security staff.
(SP/CD)
The survey, sponsored by ADT, shows crime cost retailers �2.1bn last year and �13.26bn since 2000. Over the same period the number of shoplifting incidents rose 70% despite the industry investing more than �4.3bn in crime prevention, with the �average� shoplifting incident costing a store around �149.
The report showed that criminals are increasingly targeting shops, with police priorities elsewhere and soft penalties failing to provide a deterrent.
As the number of shoplifting incidents increases so too does the threat of violence against staff. Almost two-thirds of violent incidents in stores occur when staff attempt to detain criminals or protect property from theft.
The BRC is calling on the Government to reject proposals that would see prison removed as a penalty for shoplifting, even for the worst repeat offenders. The BRC also believes the police should make retail crime a higher priority.
Pointing out that retail crime is not victimless, the BRC believes the Government's failure to provide enough prison capacity should not be used as an excuse for treating retail crime as trivial.
BRC Director General Kevin Hawkins said: "The huge increase in the number of shoplifting incidents is extremely worrying. It is having a very serious financial impact and is putting the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers at risk.
"Soft penalties and poor enforcement are to blame. Retailers are spending millions of pounds on their own crime prevention as well as contributing �4.5 billion a year in business rates. They are entitled to the support of government and police but at the moment they are not getting it."
The BRC report shows crime has a proportionately bigger impact on small and medium sized enterprise (SME) retailers than their larger counterparts.
The Consortium believes this is due in part to the lack of resources they have to allocate to security systems and security staff.
(SP/CD)
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18 June 2003
Retailers pay high price for shop-lifting
The government is ignoring the £1.7 billion annual cost of retail crime faced by the nation’s shopkeepers, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed. Figures released today in the BRC’s tenth Annual Crime Survey indicate that if the cost of crime prevention measures were added to that mark, the total would be £2.2 billion for last year.
Retailers pay high price for shop-lifting
The government is ignoring the £1.7 billion annual cost of retail crime faced by the nation’s shopkeepers, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed. Figures released today in the BRC’s tenth Annual Crime Survey indicate that if the cost of crime prevention measures were added to that mark, the total would be £2.2 billion for last year.
01 August 2003
Shoplifters strike every 3.7 seconds, claims Letwin
Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin has challenged government figures that crimes rates for theft are falling – claiming that a retail crime is committed in Britain every 3.7 seconds. Mr Letwin warned that shoplifting has "rocketed" and accused the government misleading the public by publishing crime figures which are "40% too low".
Shoplifters strike every 3.7 seconds, claims Letwin
Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin has challenged government figures that crimes rates for theft are falling – claiming that a retail crime is committed in Britain every 3.7 seconds. Mr Letwin warned that shoplifting has "rocketed" and accused the government misleading the public by publishing crime figures which are "40% too low".
21 September 2004
Crime survey shows rise in violence against shop staff
The total losses from retail crime fell to £1 billion for last year – down from £1.7 billion in 2002 – but acts of aggression against shop staff has sky-rocketed, according to the latest Retail Crime Survey. According to the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) 11th annual report, the full impact of crime and crime prevention amounted to £1.
Crime survey shows rise in violence against shop staff
The total losses from retail crime fell to £1 billion for last year – down from £1.7 billion in 2002 – but acts of aggression against shop staff has sky-rocketed, according to the latest Retail Crime Survey. According to the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) 11th annual report, the full impact of crime and crime prevention amounted to £1.
17 November 2003
New agency to tackle crime against businesses
Thousands of businesses could be in line to benefit from the creation of a new national action group to tackle crime, the Home Office announced today. The Action Against Business Crime Group is a joint venture between the Home Office and the British Retail Consortium designed to "boost the work of local business crime partnerships".
New agency to tackle crime against businesses
Thousands of businesses could be in line to benefit from the creation of a new national action group to tackle crime, the Home Office announced today. The Action Against Business Crime Group is a joint venture between the Home Office and the British Retail Consortium designed to "boost the work of local business crime partnerships".
25 January 2005
Survey reveals falling level of some crimes
The overall crime rate in England and Wales is continuing to fall, according to the results of the British Crime Survey (BCS). The survey showed that the overall crime rate fell by 11%, in the year ending September 2004.
Survey reveals falling level of some crimes
The overall crime rate in England and Wales is continuing to fall, according to the results of the British Crime Survey (BCS). The survey showed that the overall crime rate fell by 11%, in the year ending September 2004.
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