Retail crime up by 9% says British Retail Consortium

Retailers experience 424 incidents of violence or abuse each day, up 9% from last year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). 

A report published by the organisation last week showed retailers spent £1.2bn on crime prevention, an increase of 16% from the previous year. 

Losses resulting from crime reached £1bn, £770m of which came from shoplifting. In addition, 70% of retailers surveyed reported that the police response to these incidents was ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. 

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The government must help put an end to the scourge of retail crime.”

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