• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Support
Facewatch
  • Home
  • Retail Sector
  • Privacy
    • Privacy Notice
    • Facewatch and DPA
  • Testimonials and News
  • Contact Us
  • Menu

THE £1.9BN COST OF RETAIL CRIME – BRC

News, Retail
BRC logo

 

Violence remains a key issue this year. On average, 115 retail employees were attacked every day.

The combined cost of spending on crime prevention and losses from crime to the industry is a staggering £1.9 billion.

Over £700 million was lost to customer theft alone, a rise of 31% on the previous year.

 

Please accept statistics, marketing cookies to watch this video.

 

The British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) annual Retail Crime Survey has revealed the vast cost of crime to people and businesses up and down the country.

The total cost of crime and crime prevention for retailers was £1.9 billion last year, up 12% from the previous year (£1.7bn). This was made up of £900 million direct cost from retail crime, and £1 billion spent in efforts to prevent crime.

The direct costs of crime included a £700 million loss arising from customer theft, a 31% rise on the previous year. The total cost of crime, at £1.9bn, is equivalent to approximately 20% of the estimated profits of the entire retail industry.

The human cost of criminal enterprise was also laid bare as the survey revealed that 115 retail employees were attacked at work every day. The use of knives by assailants was pointed out as an issue of significant concern.

Approximately 70% of respondents described the police response to retail crime as poor or very poor. And while opinions showed the police response was generally better for violent incidents, as compared to customer theft or fraud, only 20% of respondents considered the response good or excellent.

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:

“Violence against employees remains one of the most pressing issues retailers face, yet once again we have seen an increase in the overall number of incidents. Such crimes harm not just hardworking employees, but also on their families and communities. No one should go to work fearing threats and abuse.

“The spiralling cost of retail crime – both in losses and the cost of prevention – are a huge burden to a retail sector that is already weighed down by the twin challenges of skyrocketing business costs and Brexit uncertainty.

“We hope this report will act as a catalyst for Police and Crime Commissioners around the country to take action. Retail crime should be explicitly addressed by Police and Crime Plans. Furthermore, Parliament must play its part in stemming this tide of crime by creating a specific criminal offence to protect retail employees from assault at work, as has been done for emergency workers.”

Retailers are spending 17% more on cyber-security than last year (£162 million), and nearly 80% of the retailers surveyed have seen an increase in the number of cyber attacks.

Clare Gardiner, the National Cyber Security Centre’s Director of Engagement, said:

“The NCSC is committed to helping to improve the UK’s cyber security, which is why we have worked in partnership with the British Retail Consortium to produce the BRC Cyber Security Toolkit.

“Cyber attacks can have a huge impact, but to help potential victims pro-actively defend themselves we have published a range of easy-to-implement guidance on our website.

“Organisations can also share threat intelligence in a confidential way through the NCSC’s online Cyber Information Sharing Partnership (CiSP), which increases awareness to dangers and reduces the impact on UK businesses.”

The BRC is working with a number of organisations to campaign for greater protections for retail workers.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary said:

“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect and make shops safer for staff.

“It is time for the Government to act by providing stiffer penalties for those who assault workers; a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, CPS, the judiciary and most importantly criminals. Shopworkers are on the frontline of helping to keep our communities safe, they have a crucial role that must be valued and respected.”

DOWNLOAD THE BRC’S ANNUAL CRIME SURVEY

20th August 2019/by Facewatch
Tags: Homepage
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share by Mail
https://www.facewatch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/BRC_MasterLogo_Purple_RGB_screen.jpg 640 960 Facewatch https://www.facewatch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fwlogo.png Facewatch2019-08-20 10:44:132019-08-20 10:44:13THE £1.9BN COST OF RETAIL CRIME - BRC
You might also like
Biometric Update article
Even shoplifters say that more needs to be done to stop them
Nick Fisher CEO FacewatchFacewatch Face2Face with Nick Fisher, CEO, Facewatch - putting the record straight on facial recognition
Facewatch on a crusade for safer retailing Nick Fisher, on a crusade for a safer high street, discusses why facial recognition is the smart…
Sholinfg Garage southampton Lawrences Garages Simon Lawrence impressed with Facewatch upgrade
Facewatch and Intel partner in retail crime prevention campaign Facewatch and Intel launch new campaign focusing on retail crime prevention

Archive

  • May 2025
  • January 2025
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • March 2023
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019

Categories

  • Legislation
  • News
  • Personal
  • Police
  • Retail
  • Uncategorised

Connect with us

Find us on social media...

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

ASSOCIATIONS

Cyber Essentials logo Cyber Essentials logo

Commercial Partners

Forecourt Eye Monitor

Get in Touch

Call us on: 0207 930 3225
or email: [email protected]

Facewatch Limited
London WC2

© Copyright - Facewatch Limited, Company Number 7209931
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Cookie Declaration
The Observer – Facial recognition… coming to a supermarket near... Observer - Facewatch - Facial recognitiongetty Facewatch exhibit at RETAIL RISK conference and exhibition in Leicester on 3rd...
Scroll to top