Shop employees faced an average of 1,600 instances of violence and mistreatment daily last year, as per the latest data. Although the figure remains alarmingly high, it marked a 20% decrease from 2024, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which cautioned that the issue persists.

The decrease is attributed to retailers’ long-term investments in security measures such as CCTV and security personnel, coupled with an enhanced response from law enforcement. The BRC highlighted that 13% of retailers rated the police response to incidents as good or excellent, an improvement from 9% in the previous year.

Despite the reduction, the daily count of violent and abusive incidents, totaling 1,600, remains the second-highest on record and significantly surpasses the pre-pandemic average of 455 incidents daily. Notably, incidents involving physical violence remained steady at 118 per day, with an average of 36 incidents daily involving a weapon.

Theft poses a significant financial burden on retailers, with 5.5 million documented shoplifting incidents reported last year, amounting to nearly £400 million in losses. The actual cost is believed to be much higher due to undetected incidents, according to the BRC.

The BRC highlighted a concerning trend where organized criminal groups target high-value goods that are easily resold. Additionally, parcel theft during deliveries cost retailers over £100 million in the previous year.

Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, emphasized the need to further reduce incidents of violence and abuse, stressing that the current levels are still four times higher than pre-pandemic levels. She also expressed concerns about theft by criminal gangs targeting multiple stores.

Joanne Thomas, general secretary of the shopworkers’ union Usdaw, welcomed the decline in violence and abuse but emphasized that retail workers continue to face unacceptable levels of mistreatment. She highlighted that shop theft is not a victimless crime and often triggers violent attacks on staff.

Sean Lee from Sensormatic Solutions, the report sponsor, noted that the decrease in violence and abuse signals progress due to coordinated efforts in technology, strategy, and collaboration. Increased investment in technology is proving effective in combating retail crime.