RETAIL trade union Usdaw is concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics for England and Wales showing that in the year to September 2025, there was an overall 5% increase in shoplifting.
Usdaw’s annual survey of nearly 9,500 retail staff showed that over three-quarters had suffered verbal abuse and far too many had been threatened or assaulted. Two-thirds of respondents said that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they had experienced were triggered by shop theft or armed robbery.
Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary says: “The scale of retail crime is demonstrated by these latest police recorded crime statistics. While the rate of increase has slowed since it peaked at 37% under the last Conservative Government, the fact is retail crime continues to rise. Usdaw’s last survey found that this is in no way a victimless crime, with two-thirds of attacks on retail staff being triggered by theft or armed robbery. Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers.
“We have campaigned along with many retail employers for substantial legislative measures to combat this growing problem and we are pleased that the Government has introduced the Crime and Policing Bill. It has passed all stages in the House of Commons and is now going through the committee stage in the House of Lords. After the Conservatives persistently refused to legislate to protect retail workers and effectively provided an open invitation to retail criminals, Labour immediately set about tackling the issue.
“We now look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters and funding for more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas, along with Respect Orders for offenders. Labour has also started the process of reforming police services to put a greater focus local forces on local crime and provide Local Policing Guarantees. It is our hope that these new measures will help give retail workers the respect they deserve.”
