The British Retail Consortium’s (BRC’s) ‘Retail Crime Survey 2010’, published today, shows a welcome 11% reduction in the overall number of offences (per 100 outlets) compared with the previous year.
Shoplifting incidents are down 10.6%, though the total value of goods stolen was still up on the previous year.
That said, the reduction has come at significant cost. In 2009-2010, retailers were forced to spend over GB pound 210 million on protecting their staff, stock and premises. That’s 10% up on the previous year, and the equivalent to the cost of 52,000 full-time retail jobs.
In addition, the human cost of retail crime remains high. Despite a reduction in offences, more than 18,000 staff surveyed reported suffering verbal or physical abuse.
The BRC is now calling for retailers’ substantial and increased commitment to be matched by a similar level of commitment from law makers and law enforcers.
The BRC’s recommendations include:
482,831 incidents of customer theft
Despite retailers’ success in deterring offences, the new survey shows participating retailers suffered 482,831 incidents of customer theft in a year. Assuming an average shop is open 12 hours a day, that equates to almost two thefts per minute across the UK.
Respondents to the survey, who represent 48% of all UK retail turnover, indicated only half of all customer thefts are detected (in turn suggesting almost two million offences in a year across the whole industry).
The new survey shows the total value of goods stolen by customers was GB pound 137 million. The average value of goods stolen in each incident was GB pound 70, up from GB pound 45 on the previous year. The next most costly forms of retail crime were fraud, burglary and staff theft.
BRC director general Stephen Robertson commented: “Retailers have already stepped up to deliver the Big Society and safe, vibrant communities. Faced with soaring retail crime in recent years – boosted by the recession and insufficient action by the police and the courts – retailers dug deeper into their own pockets and spent even more on crime prevention measures.”
Robertson explained that it’s “encouraging” to see this having a positive impact on the number of shoplifting offences, but bemoaned the fact that the cost to retailers still went up.
“Retailers’ extra investment in stopping crime has deterred a lot of opportunist thefts leaving a higher proportion of determined, organised thieves who take a greater value of goods each time they steal.”
More incidents of staff theft
At the same time, that investment has revealed more incidents of staff theft.
Theft by employees was the only area to see a rise in incidents. It accounts for only 5% of all retail crime by value, but 68% more incidents were recorded than the previous year.
The increase is partly explained by employers improving their methods of detection. Though there were more incidents, the total value of goods stolen by employees fell.
Robertson added: “With police resources under pressure, retailers are making a GB pound 210 million a year investment in crime prevention. They’re tackling shop crime head on. With proper support from the courts, police and politicians the fall in crime figures can and should be accompanied by the fall in costs that retailers and their customers deserve.”
The ACPO view
Commenting on the latest British Crime Survey results, ACPO’s head of crime chief constable Keith Bristow said: “Police forces across England and Wales are continuing to play their part in driving down crime and protecting the public from harm. The latest recorded crime statistics and British Crime Survey results show police recorded crime for the 12 months to September 2010 has decreased by 7%, while the official crime survey data shows a 5% reduction in crime.”
Bristow continued: “The British Crime Survey data also shows the risk of being a victim of crime remains at a 30-year-low. The police recorded crime rates show falls in most areas, but we are not complacent.”
He added: “Nationally, we have been working to improve all areas of sex offence investigation, with a particular emphasis on rape in domestic abuse cases. We remain determined to bring to justice people who commit sexual offences, and we’re making significant progress in this critical area, particularly around giving victims the confidence to come forward and report these crimes. We need them to do so.”
Bristow went on to state: “In separate data issued today, homicide and firearms offences are also down. The homicide rate remains at its lowest level on the homicide index in 12 years. These overall results are a strong indication of the efforts of our workforce and others to keep people safe.”
The BRC’s Retail Crime Survey 2010 was completed by retailers employing 1.3 million staff. A broad range of retailers participated, duly reflecting the relative balance of sectors within retailing.
The full survey can be accessed online (a dedicated link is provided on the right hand panel of this page)
