The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has highlighted a sharp increase in shoplifting in the UK, following data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing a 13% rise in reported offences to 529,994 in the year ending June 2025.
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Lucy Whing, Crime Policy Adviser at the BRC, said:
"Retail theft is a major issue for retailers, costing over £2.2bn a year. While ONS figures do not reveal the true scale of the issue as it only tracks reported incidents, it chimes with our own statistics which show shoplifting soaring in recent years. The causes are manifold, but the rise in organised crime is a particular concern, with gangs systematically hitting stores one after another, all over the country."
She also warned of the associated risks to staff:
"Theft is also a major trigger for violence and abuse against staff. Incidents of violence and abuse have risen to over 2,000 per day. These incidents are not restricted to those working in stores: new figures from Usdaw revealed that more than three quarters of delivery drivers have been a victim of abuse and over one in ten have been assaulted over the last twelve months."
Whing welcomed government action, noting that the Crime and Policing Bill, soon to reach Committee Stage, will introduce significant measures, including removing the £200 threshold for 'low level' theft and creating a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers. She added:
"We call on the government to ensure that the final Act extends protections to include delivery drivers."
The BRC continues to monitor trends and works with retailers, government, and law enforcement to reduce crime and protect workers. The organisation emphasises the need for clear legislation, robust enforcement, and ongoing awareness campaigns to curb retail crime and safeguard employees across the UK.
More information:
British Retail Consortium (BRC)
[email protected]
www.brc.org.uk
