Association of Convenience Stores — Written evidence (TSL0010)   

 

  1. ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to the Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry into shoplifting. We represent over 50,000 convenience stores across the UK that employ 445,000 people.[1]

 

  1. In the last year, we estimate there were 76,000 incidents of violence against people working in local shops and over 1.2m incidents of verbal abuse. Convenience retailers have invested £339 million in crime prevention measures in their stores, equivalent to £6,838 per site.

 

  1. The full findings of ACS’ Crime Report 2024 are available here.

 

  1. We have set out some key points regarding shop theft and other forms of retail crime. Please note we have made similar points in our submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry into violence and abuse towards retail workers. However, they are equally relevant to this committee’s inquiry.

 

Recent shoplifting trends

 

  1. As demonstrated in Figure 1 below, ACS has produced a shop theft index since 2012 which records the net increase of shop theft rates every year. Shop theft rates fell in 2020 during the pandemic but returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Since the middle of 2021, rates have increased year-on-year to reach record levels in 2023/2024.

 

A graph with blue lines Description automatically generated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1. Shop Theft Index

 

  1. Some reports in the media have suggested that the cost-of-living crisis is driving high rates of shop theft in the retail sector. Our data supports this too with 67% of retailers saying this had impacted the level of shop theft. However, when we speak to retailers, they do not suggest that the rise of shop theft is the result of household budgets being squeezed and people turning to theft. Instead, retailers have reported that prolific offenders are having to steal more to support an alcohol or drug addiction or as part of organised criminality.[2] Prolific offenders often use violence and aggression towards shopworkers to escape or deter shopworkers from challenging them.

 

  1. 76% of retailers are also reporting that the levels of organised criminality targeting shops has increased in the last year.[3] There is a huge range of organised criminality experienced by local shops. Generally, convenience retailers are experiencing local organised criminality, where small gangs will steal products to order, or use distraction techniques to enable them to clear out shelves of high value items, such as alcohol, coffee or meat. This type of localised organised criminality differs from the organised criminality that Operation Pegasus is attempting to address, which focuses on criminals working across police forces areas and targeting retailers’ supply chains. These types of partnerships are important – businesses and the state should work together to fund the tackling retail crime. If offenders are taken out of the system than it is likely that all businesses will benefit, regardless of whether they participate. However, we need more of a focus on localised strategies to comprehensively address retail crime.

 

  1. Shop theft affects all shops regardless of size, location, products sold or the demography where they trade. However, there are factors which affect the vulnerability of convenience stores. ACS’ Local Shop Report 2024 shows that the majority of convenience retailers trade from either isolated locations (33%) or are located on a small shopping parade (40%) with less than five retail/ service businesses close by.  This often means that convenience retailers do not sit within the reach of Business Crime Reduction Partnerships, Business Improvement districts or town centre operated radio link schemes.

 

  1. In addition, they would not benefit from specific town centre police patrols. The risk for convenience retailers is that proactive activity to tackle retail crime in town centres or on larger high streets inadvertently diverts retail crime problems to the secondary locations they trade.  This is why advocated for the government and police forces to have a prolific offender strategy, making sure that interventions reach offenders committing shop theft and anti-social behaviour. We also want to ensure that when the government talks about a “Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, restoring patrols to our town centres”, it must also encompass secondary shopping parades based in local neighbourhoods.

 

Rise of violence in retail crime

 

  1. Shop theft is a key trigger of violence in the retail sector. In line with the rise of shop theft, violence and abuse against shopworkers has also been increasing since the middle of 2021. ACS’ quarterly tracker polling of violence towards retailers and shopworkers indicates that the levels of violence have increased on pre-pandemic levels (see Figure 2). ACS’ polling of 1,200 retailers asks them to indicate if violence in stores has increased, decreased or stayed the same. The net score of these answers gives us an index of convenience retailers’ experience of violence in their stores.

 

  1. Figure 2 shows that the levels of violence have increased on pre-pandemic levels. February 2024 had an index score of +11 compared to a score of +5 in November 2022. The level of violence from November 2023 was at the highest level recorded, with a score of +14. The record levels of violence towards shopworkers are extremely worrying, with shopworkers regularly facing violence and verbal abuse when serving the public. ACS’ Crime Report 2024 found that there were an estimated 76,000 incidents of violence and 1.2m incidents of verbal abuse in the sector.[4]

A graph with a line Description automatically generatedFigure 2. ACS Violence Index

  1. Retailers tell us that the rise of violence and abuse is having an impact on retailers’ ability to recruit and retain staff. Data from ACS’ Colleague Survey 2024 has found that 21% of staff face verbal abuse every week and 36% face physical violence every few months at work.[5] Further, 44% of colleagues tell us that verbal abuse has increased in the last 12 months and 27% have told us that violence has increased.[6]
  2. An USDAW survey in 2023 found that 30% of shopworkers are considering changing their job due to the extent of verbal abuse, threats and assaults.[7] Further, the Retail Trust conducted a survey in 2023 which found that 47% of shopworkers feel unsafe at work.[8] The level of violence is unacceptable, and we need help from the police to address this issue

The support retailers receive and its sufficiency

  1. Retailers are investing record levels to protect their shops. Our Crime Report 2024 shows that the sector has invested £339m in the last year, with £6,838 spent on average per store.[9] The top areas of investment include CCTV, security staff, staff training on crime management, intruder alarms and internal radios. Retailers are also investing in facial recognition. There is a risk facial recognition can increase harassment levels as store colleagues choose to challenge offenders more, however, theft levels do drop in stores where facial recognition is used.

 

  1. Retailers’ investment is growing and is substantial but we need greater support from government to invest in crime prevention equipment so all businesses can access it. We want the Government to support investment in crime prevention equipment, whether through tax relief or direct funding. We also need police and regulators to provide clarity on how to use new technologies such as facial recognition, to deter criminals.

 

  1. Police are focusing more attention on retail crime in recent years. This is important because PCCs set the budgets and priorities for local police forces. An overview of some of the work that PCCs have done to address retail crime has been collated by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners in their report: In Focus: Tackling Business and Retail Crime[10].

 

  1. However, there is still work to be done. Our 2024 Crime Report finds that retailers’ satisfaction level with the police continues to be very low.[11] Of polled retailers, 43% reported being very dissatisfied with the time taken for police to respond to a criminal incident in their stores; 50% reported being very dissatisfied with the police’s investigation of incidents; and 61% were very disappointed with the sanctions issued to the offenders of the crime.[12] Further, 35% of retailers are very dissatisfied with the ease of reporting crime.[13]

 

  1. We want to facilitate better working relationships between retailers and the police. We believe one of the key areas for action is improving the process for retailers to be able to report crime to the police and having clear expectations about when police will respond – the National Retail Crime Action Plan is a step in right direction. We also want to see greater neighbourhood patrols in the places where our members trade. As 33% of our stores are located in isolated locations and 40% on small shopping parades, many are out of the scope of BCRPS. Therefore, police presence in and near our shops is crucial in preventing crime.

 

  1. Police forces across the UK have different online reporting systems, which retailers often find challenging to use and to share evidence with the police, such as CCTV, to support following up on reasonable lines of enquiry.  We have written to PCCs encouraging police forces to publish how they want retailers to report retail crime and where they can share evidence such as CCTV footage with the police[14].

 

The Retail Crime Action Plan

  1. The introduction of the National Retail Crime Action Plan is a welcome development. The guidelines established in the plan, including that police should prioritise attendance at the scene of crimes where violence has been used and that hot spot patrolling should be increased, can make a real difference for retailers. We welcome early indications that the plan is having an impact, with a dip sample of 31 police forces across 1,500 crimes reviewed and police attending 60% where violence was used[15]. 

 

  1. However, it remains too early in the process to measure the full impact of the plan and it is important to note that the plan is only guidance. We need PCCs and Chief Constables to translate the guidance into action by committing to deliver the plan in their Police and Crime Plans and holding officers to account on operational delivery. We also need ongoing scrutiny of the implementation of the plan at national level with regular updates to the National Retail Crime Steering Group, which is chaired by the Policing Minister, and via the National Police Chief Councils.

 

  1. We believe there are few key areas that should be focused on:

-       Attendance by police when violence is used: Whenever violence is used in a retail setting, we expect the police to attend and gather evidence to support with investigating offenders.

-       Following reasonable lines of enquiry: 96% of convenience stores have CCTV cameras, therefore it will be possible to share evidence when shop theft or violence occurs. Enhancing the use of online reporting systems to enabling the sharing of evidence efficiently will be essential to deter and detect criminal activity in shops. 

-       Prolific offender strategies: Most shop theft and violence incidents are committed by repeat offenders known to the police, retailers and wider community. Identifying these individuals and targeting resources at ensuring that they cannot continue to offend unchecked.

 

  1. ACS’ Crime Report 2024 make several recommendations for both Police and Crime Commissioners and national government. [16]

 

Recommendations for National Government

 

  1. Deliver justice for shopworkers and effective sanctions for offenders: We welcome the announcement that the Government will introduce a standalone offence for attacks on retail workers as part of the Crime and Policing Bill. The introduction of a similar standalone offence in Scotland has led to, in the period August 2021 – February 2024, a total of 10,295 reported incidents, 3,607 charges and 1,199 convictions. The Government should introduce this Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.

 

  1. Additional police resources must be focused on neighbourhood policing: Commitments to increase the number of police officers are welcome, but only if this delivers a rise in neighbourhood policing patrols in hot spot areas, like high streets and local shopping parades.
  2. Support investment in technology to deter and detect criminals: The Government should introduce incentives for investment in crime prevention equipment. The Home Office should co-ordinate a working group to increase the synergy between retailers’ and police forces’ use of technology to tackle retail crime. CCTV, facial recognition, and evidence sharing platforms can be powerful tools to detect and deter criminals.

 

Recommendations for Police and Crime Commissioners

 

  1. Include the National Retail Crime Action Plan in PCC’s Police and Crime Plan: All Police and Crime Commissioners should commit to deliver the National Retail Crime Action Plan in their Police and Crime Plans.

 

  1. Develop a prolific offender strategy: Every Police and Crime Commissioner should have a strategy in place to identify prolific offenders that target high streets and local shopping parades. The majority of shop theft offences are committed by a small number of prolific offenders that often have drug addiction issues.

 

  1. Make it easier for retailers to report crime and share evidence online: It is difficult and time consuming for retailers to report crime and share evidence with the police. Investing in consistent online reporting platforms would increase reporting levels and evidence shared with the police.
  2. Tackle alcohol and drug addiction: Addiction is the primary motivator of repeat offenders, who commit the majority of the crime in the convenience sector. A greater focus is needed on addiction rehabilitation services to break the cycle of offending. We worked with The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) to deliver a report; ‘Desperate for a Fix’.[17] The report advocates for the introduction of second-chance programmes that provide a clear alternative to prison. There are already effective examples that PCCs should consider, including then Offender to Recovery Programme in the West Midlands police force area. PCCs should invest in rehabilitation initiatives such as this.

 

 

3 October 2024

[1] ACS Local Shop Report, 2024.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] ACS Crime Report 2024.

[5] ACS Colleague Survey, 2024.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Usdaw survey, March 2023.

[8] Retail Trust survey, November 2023.

[9] ACS Crime Report, 2024.

[10] APCC, In Focus: Tackling Business and Retail Crime, 2024.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Stop Shop Theft Campaign

[15] NPCC: Policing Retail Crime Action Plan shows early impact

[16] Ibid.

[17] CSJ, Desperate for Fix, 2018.