News Pricer.lt

BRC: Retail crime ‘spiralling out of control’ as incidents reach record high

BRC: Retail crime ‘spiralling out of control’ as incidents reach record high

The British Retail Consortium has warned that retail crime is “spiralling out of control” despite more being spent on prevention than ever before.

The trade body’s annual crime survey reports that violent and abusive incidents are up more than 50% last year, while retailers are reporting 55,000 thefts a day.

Verbal and physical attacks, violent threats, and sexual and racial abuse in stores have rocketed to more than 2,000 incidents a day in the year to the end of August, up from 1,300 the previous year and more than three times the 2020 level.

Theft also reached an all-time high with over 20 million incidents in the year costing retailers £2.2bn, up from £1.8bn the previous year.

The BRC found that the amount spent on crime prevention is also at a record high, with retailers investing £1.8bn on measures such as CCTV, more security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras, up from £1.2bn the previous year. This means the total cost of crime has surged 21% from £3.3bn to £4.2bn.

Related Story

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Retail crime is spiralling out of control. People in retail have been spat on, racially abused, and threatened with machetes.

“Every day this continues, criminals are getting bolder and more aggressive. We owe it to the three million hardworking people working in retail to bring the epidemic of crime to heel. No one should go to work in fear.

“With little faith in police attendance, it is no wonder criminals feel they have licence to steal, threaten, assault and abuse. Retailers are spending more than ever before, but they cannot prevent crime alone.”

Poundland launched its “largest-ever investment into anti-theft technology and security” earlier this month to address the growing issues of shop theft, abuse, and harassment faced by its employees.

The retailer enhanced its security infrastructure, including the introduction of anti-theft technology and communication headsets for its staff across its 800-plus stores. It is also allowing its contracted security teams to detain suspected offenders in-store.

Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter

News source

Dalintis:
0 0 balsai
Straipsnio vertinimas
guest
0 Komentarai
Seniausi
Naujausi Daugiausiai įvertinti
Inline Feedbacks
Rodyti visus komentarus

Taip pat skaitykite: