Violence and abuse against retail workers fell by a fifth from 2,000 incidents per day in 2023/4 to 1,600 last year, according to a new crime report by the British Retail Consortium.

The report suggests this improvement reflects years of heavy investment by retailers, an improved police response as well as closer collaboration between retailers, police, and government. The BRC says retailers have spent over £5bn in the last five years on improved security measures, from CCTV, to security staff, to improved data collection.

Theft also remains a significant challenge for retailers, with 5.5m detected incidents of shoplifting last year, costing retailers nearly £400m. However, with many incidents going undetected, the true cost is likely to be much higher. Organised criminal gangs are increasingly targeting high-value, easily resold goods, exploiting the lack of consequences from law enforcement. For the first time, the report also looks at the issue of delivery parcel theft, which cost retailers more than £100m last year.

The government has previously announced measures aimed at tackling retail crime and with the Crime and Policing Bill passing into law soon, retailers hope it will play a vital role in granting additional legal protections for retail workers and bringing down levels of theft.

The Bill will introduce a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker, which is intended to increase sentencing and provide a stronger deterrent as well as improve the visibility of violence against retail workers so that police can allocate necessary resources. It will also remove the £200 threshold for ‘low level’ theft. The BRC is calling on the government to ensure that the final Act ensures the extension of protections to delivery drivers.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Theft remains a huge issue, with an increasingly concerning link to organised criminal gangs, who continue to systematically target one store after another, stealing tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods in one go.

“Retailers, the police and government must continue to work together, building on the great work done so far, focusing on consistent enforcement, better data and intelligence sharing, and targeted action against prolific offenders and organised gangs. The £7m investment announced in the policing White Paper is another welcome signal of government’s commitment to tackling organised retail crime. However, turning this into real impact requires sustained prioritisation and dedicated resourcing from police. For the sake of the three million hardworking people in retail, this work must not stop.”

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