Theft and violence in UK’s small shops soars to record levels

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Theft and violence against workers in convenience stores across Britain have soared to record levels, according to new data. 

About 5.6mn incidents of theft were recorded in 2023, more than a fivefold increase from the previous record of 1.1mn set in 2022, according to a report by the Association of Convenience Stores published on Monday. 

James Lowman, chief executive of ACS, which represents 49,000 small shops across the UK, said the problem “has got worse” and “cannot be allowed to continue”. 

The figures showed that there were about 76,000 incidents of violence reported in shops last year, up from 41,000 in 2022.

Shoplifting was costing shop owners an average of £4,946 per store, the organisation estimated, with meat, alcohol and confectionery the most commonly stolen products. 

The report follows similar data released by the British Retail Consortium last month that laid bare the challenges faced by retailers during the cost of living crisis.

The BRC, which represents more than 200 major companies in the UK, said violence and abuse against staff rose to 1,300 incidents a day in the 12 months to the end of August 2023 up from almost 870 a day during the same period a year earlier. The cost of theft also doubled to £1.8bn, from £953mn, with more than 45,000 incidents a day. 

Retailers including Primark and John Lewis have previously warned that crime is squeezing profits.

Lowman acknowledged recent efforts involving retailers by the police and the government with the launch of measures, known as the Retail Crime Action Plan, in October. But he said “more [needed] to be done urgently” to tackle the problem, including more neighbourhood policing and better use of technology to catch criminals. 

Chief Superintendent Alex Goss, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for retail crime, said: “Retail crime can…