WITH a further increase in shoplifting across the East of England – Usdaw welcomes the Labour Government’s commitment to tackle retail crime
Retail trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in the year to March 2024, there were significant increases in shoplifting across all constabulary areas in the East of England. In the whole of England and Wales, there has been a persistent upward trend since the pandemic, which continued with a 30% increase and figures now having risen to the highest level in 20 years.
The Office for National Statistics released figures today showing a 22% increase in shoplifting incidents across the East of England and by constabulary area, as follows:
Bedfordshire +19%
Cambridgeshire +30%
Essex +21%
Hertfordshire +25%
Norfolk +26%
Suffolk +6%
Usdaw’s 2023 annual survey of over 5,500 shop workers found that 60% had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. This 22% increase in shoplifting across the East of England is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning.
“The scale of assaults, abuse and threats towards shop workers and extent of the retail crime epidemic has been a disgrace for many years. Usdaw has long called for action that includes a standalone offence for assaulting a shop worker, which was vehemently opposed by Conservative MPs on many occasions, until they made a last-minute U-turn before the election that was too late to take any action.
“The Tory dither and delay has led to thousands of shop workers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. We are delighted to now have a new Labour Government that has already included key measures in their legislative programme announced in last week’s King’s Speech. The last Parliament ended with both sides agreeing that legislation is needed, so we hope that consensus continues.
“We look forward to Labour delivering a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding more uniformed officers patrolling shopping areas, along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.”
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