Grocery Gazette’s Post

Following the King’s speech yesterday, it’s encouraging to see real commitment to tackling retail crime. Making the attack or abuse of a shopworker a standalone offence is a significant step, which the Co-op called a “crowning moment” for store staff. This marks a positive shift in addressing the surge in violence towards retail workers. While there's still a long way to go, this is a positive start. At Tessiant, we’ve been discussing the growing challenges of retail crime and the importance of robust loss prevention strategies with several companies. Tessiant Associate Elizabeth Harris has led the Loss Prevention Strategy for one of the big four supermarkets. Recently, we shared her insights on building a strong Loss Prevention Plan, to create a safer environment for store colleagues. We believe, with these legal changes, store workers are more likely to adhere to some of the necessary procedures we have outlined to further reduce crime, if they feel supported by the law. If you haven't had a chance to read Liz's insights yet, here’s the link to the article 👉 https://lnkd.in/e_RfDys2 https://lnkd.in/eBQvRVei #retailcrime #lospreventionstrategies #protectingemployees

Almost 90 prominent UK retail leaders, including heads of major companies like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Boots, and WH Smith, have collectively written to the government, expressing concern over the rising incidence of retail crime characterized by violent criminals "emptying stores." They are urging the creation of a new UK-wide aggravated offense that specifically addresses assaults or abuse against retail workers, similar to an existing law in Scotland, which would lead to more severe penalties and comprehensive police recording of retail crime incidents. Retailers have emphasized the lack of data on these offenses, hindering police response. The executives have requested a meeting with the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, after a promise to develop an action plan following a meeting with the Minister for Crime, Chris Philp. The call for action comes as a survey by the British Retail Consortium reveals a 27% average increase in shoplifting in major UK cities this year, and police data shows inadequate responses to reported serious retail crimes. Retail leaders are alarmed by organized gangs threatening staff, shop looting, and increasing violence against workers. The Co-op grocery chain reported losses of £33 million due to theft in the first half of 2023, citing a rise in "shop looting." Shoplifting is being seen as a significant issue for communities and the retail sector as a whole, and technology and display practices are being examined as contributing factors. Other retail leaders, including Next and John Lewis, have also reported rising shoplifting rates impacting profit margins. https://lnkd.in/ezmAFxpe #RetailCrime #UKRetail #ViolentCrime #RetailWorkers #CrimePrevention #Shoplifting #RetailSafety #RetailIndustry #GovernmentAction #CrimeStatistics #RetailChallenges #CommunitySafety #LawEnforcement #RetailLeaders #UKBusiness #CrimeTrends #SecurityMeasures #RetailLosses #SafetyatWork #RetailViolence #CrimeResponse #ShopLooting

Almost 90 UK retail leaders, including top bosses of Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer, have signed a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, demanding action over rising rates of retail crime. They're calling for change, making it a specific criminal offence to assault or abuse retail staff. This would give retail workers better legal protection and result in harsher sentences for offenders. This urgent call to action couldn't come at a more critical time. Reports of incidents of violence and abuse towards retail staff have nearly doubled in the past year alone and inadequate police responses to serious crimes are causing retailers to lose trust in existing measures. We must step up and do more to protect our essential workers. https://lnkd.in/e8njKb2B #RetailSafety #ZeroTolerance #EmployeeSafety #Notapartofthejob 

Breaking: Shopworker abuse to become a standalone offence! The King's Speech has unveiled a game-changing bill to crack down on retail crime. As security partners to major retailers, Assist Security Group welcomes this. Security Gazette says Co-op reported a staggering 172,000 crime incidents in just six months, up 42% since 2022. Tesco's CEO warns current measures aren't enough, despite heavy investment. At ASG, we're gearing up to support retailers in implementing these changes. With retail crime costing £3.3 billion yearly, this legislation couldn't come at a better time. Ready to boost your security strategy? https://lnkd.in/evfNXer7

🛒 Battling Retail Crime: A Significant Challenge 🛒 Supermarkets, like Woolworths, are facing a costly issue. Shoplifting costs the retail sector up to a staggering $9 billion annually, equivalent to 2-3% of total stock and a massive 25% loss in profits. To combat this, supermarkets are employing various measures: locking high-value items, using smart gates to secure trolleys, AI monitoring of self-serve checkouts, and traditional methods like CCTV and loss prevention officers. This theft increase isn't just about the cost of living; there's a thriving resale market for stolen goods, adding complexity. The response involves improving workplace design to deter theft and customer abuse, alongside potential legal reforms. The union representing retail workers emphasizes their essential role in providing for our families and communities. Let's appreciate these frontline heroes who ensure we have life's essentials. 💪 #RetailHeroes #PreventRetailCrime #CommunitySupport https://lnkd.in/g5F9U_yQ

Article in the Guardian - UK retail workers face 1,300 daily incidents of violence and abuse, with thefts more than doubling to 16.7m last year. The British Retail Consortium calls for government action, highlighting a surge in racial abuse, sexual harassment, and physical assaults. Retail crime rise coincides with inflation and reduced police resources, prompting calls for a standalone offence to protect retail workers and tougher sentences for retail crimes, similar to legislation in Scotland. Retailers report unprecedented crime levels and demand more efficient court processes and deterrents against shoplifting.

Britain's grocery stores have become somewhat of a hotspot for crime, including abuse by customers directed at staff. Tesco, one of Britain's largest grocery chains, is fighting against the growing number of physical and verbal assault cases by equipping store workers with body cameras. Tesco CEO Ken Murphy said the impact of such incidents on the retail giant's workers is "heartbreaking" and that the cameras would help "deter offenders." The company has invested £44 million ($55.56 million) over the last four years to up security measures at its stores. “Money spent on making sure people are safe at work is always well spent,” Murphy said in an Op-Ed last week. “But it should not have to be like this.” Retail outlets in the U.K. have also seen shoplifting rise sharply in recent times— the British Retail Consortium found a 26% increase in retail theft across the country's 10 biggest cities earlier this year. Read more Fortune ⬇ https://lnkd.in/e2SJqWgm

Having been on the receiving end of several violent and abusive incidents at work from shop lifters (mostly professional gangs or individuals). I would very much welcome any changes to protect retailer workers, introduce tougher laws of prosecution of offenders, and support retail businesses that are already finding challenging to stay open in this current climate. Labour is calling for stronger action against abuse of shop workers including on sentencing, and want to restore neighbourhood policing and town centre patrols with 13,000 more officers and PCSOs. A survey from the BRC found incidents of violence and abuse towards retail workers nearly doubled in the 2021-22 financial year compared with before the pandemic. Around £1 billion was estimated to have been stolen from retailers since 2022. The police should prioritise such violent offences and improve their response to incidents, with nearly half of BRC members (44%) rating the response by forces as "poor or very poor". We are also seeing a worrying social media trend, of teenagers and young adults deciding to gather at a prearranged location to loot retail stores. https://lnkd.in/eESRNMgi #harrods #marlinewyork #retail #jewellerybrand #luxury #luxurygoods #luxuryjewellery #lossprevention #londonjobs #luxuryjobs #harrodsjobs #Jobseekers #londonjobs

As a leading retailer, TESCO is not immune to the rising trend of violence against retail workers. In fact, physical assaults on Tesco staff have increased by 33% since last year. This mirrors findings by the British Retail Consortium, which reported that abuse against retail staff has almost doubled compared to pre-Covid levels. To combat this issue, Tesco CEO Ken Murphy has announced that staff will be given body cameras to increase their safety. Similar action has already been taken by Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Co-op. However, Mr Murphy has called for tougher laws targeting offenders, as well as for England and Wales to be brought in line with Scotland, where abusing or assaulting retail staff is an offence. In addition, the supermarket wants to be kept informed about how cases against offenders proceed. According to the BRC, retail crime costs the industry £1.76bn each year, with more than 850 incidents recorded daily in 2021/22. These incidents include racial and sexual abuse which is having a profound emotional and physical impact on retail staff. As industry leaders, we must take swift and decisive action to protect our employees and customers. It's time to put an end to this scourge on society. #BERELEVANT #BEKNOWN #BEDIFFERENT

The increasing issue of retail crime extends beyond the US: UK businesses lost £1.76 billion last year📉 Leaders from 88 retailers across the UK – including top bosses from Clarks, Dr. Martens plc, The Dune Group and JD Sports Fashion – have signed a new letter penned by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman demanding action over rising rates of retail crime. Reports from the BRC found that violence and abuse against retail workers in the UK had almost doubled on pre-pandemic levels; levels of shoplifting in ten major cities had risen by an average of 27%.