Daily incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers in the UK fell by around 20 per cent in the past year, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) Crime Report.
However, at an estimated 1,600 incidents per day, the figure remains one of the highest on record, well above pre-pandemic levels.
Violence and abuse still widespread
The BRC report shows a drop from roughly 2,000 daily incidents in 2023/24 to about 1,600 in the latest period, reflecting a meaningful decline in retail violence and abuse.
This reduction is attributed to increased investment in security measures, improved police engagement and closer collaboration between retailers, law enforcement and government bodies.
Despite this progress, overall levels remain high. Incidents involving physical violence, including assaults and threats with a weapon, showed little change, with about 118 physical attacks and 36 weapon-related incidents reported daily.
These figures are more than three times pre-pandemic rates, underscoring that violence and abuse stay a serious operational challenge for the retail sector.
Shop theft and organised crime pressures
The report also highlights continued concerns around shoplifting and organised retail crime. Retailers detected some 5.5 million shoplifting incidents in the latest year, resulting in nearly £400 million in losses. Many incidents are believed to go unreported, suggesting the true scale could be greater.
Retailers warn that organised criminal gangs increasingly target high-value goods that can be easily resold, putting further pressure on loss prevention systems and frontline staff.
The inclusion of parcel delivery theft in the report for the first time shows the evolving nature of retail crime.
Policy response and industry action
In response to rising crime levels, the UK government is set to introduce new legal measures under the Crime and Policing Bill, aimed at strengthening protections for retail workers and closing loopholes in theft prosecution.
The bill will create a specific offence for assaulting a retail worker and remove the £200 threshold for low-level theft, signalling a tougher stance on retail offences.
Retail industry bodies have welcomed these initiatives but stress that enforcement and resource allocation by police will be critical to achieving long-term reductions in violence and abuse.
Many retailers continue to invest in technology such as CCTV, security staffing and data-driven loss prevention, highlighting a sustained effort to improve safety across the sector.
