Retail crime wave hits Britain’s independent shops

A new report from the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) reveals a surge in retail crime negatively impacting independent shops across sectors and locations over the past 12 months.

The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, surveyed its members to grasp a snapshot of how stores have been hit by the crimewave.

The survey showed that 40 per cent of shop owners or staff had experienced verbal abuse, while 6.5 per cent had come up against physical harm from customers in the past year - which has included being spat at, assaulted or having shop items thrown at them.

Of those physically abused, 82 per cent decided to not report it to police, while those that did, said it didn't lead to prosecution (18 per cent).

The results also showed that 70 per cent of those who had experienced verbal abuse said it has got worse in the last 12 months compared to the previous year, while 50 per cent of those who suffered physical abuse said it had worsened.

Of those verbally abused - which included intimidation, swearing and aggressive behaviour, being threatened with violence and being shouted at, 66 per cent did not report the offence to police. For those that were reported, 50 per cent of shopkeepers said that police didn't attend, while 42 per cent had police attend the scene but no prosecutions taking place.

When questioned, many shop owners said that they 'didn't see the point' in reporting it as 'nothing happens' and they didn't believe that the police would be interested. Other's said there was no police presence, and they didn't feel that the police cared.

Most thefts (50 per cent) were items costing up to £100 while most items were reported to being stolen during opening hours (87 per cent) while just 3 per cent were break ins. The survey also showed that 7 per cent of respondents had experienced cybercrime in the last 12 months either through fraudulent transactions, good purchased on stolen cards, and even company credit cards being used.

One shopkeeper said: “Thieves do not fear being seen, challenged or caught, so feel quite at liberty to take larger items, up to around £200 each time”. Another noted that “they know the police will do nothing”.

Andrew Goodacre (pictured), CEO of Bira, said: "Retail crime, such as theft and aggravated behaviour, seems to be reaching epidemic levels but there does seem to be more of an organised element to it.