DATACART
19 SEPTEMBER 2025 ASIAN TRADER 13
hoplifting remains one of the most
pressing challenges facing UK
retailers, with sharp regional
disparities highlighting the scale of
the problem. According to the latest
police-recorded crime figures, the national
average rate of shoplifting offences stands at
8.7 per 1,000 people. Yet in some areas,
incidents are almost double this level.
Cleveland tops the list with 14.2 offences
per 1,000, followed closely by Nottingham
shire (13.0) and Northumbria (12.4). Even
London, where the Metropolitan Police
recorded 10.5 offences, sits well above the
average.
Behind these figures lies a wider picture of
strain on retailers and their staff. The British
Retail Consortium (BRC) reports that only
around a third of violent or abusive incidents
are ever passed on to police, suggesting the
real scale of retail crime is far higher. Shop
lifting is rarely a victimless crime: beyond
the £2.2 billion in direct theft losses last year,
businesses invested £1.8 billion in security
measures and continue to absorb ris
ing insurance premiums.
For shop workers, the impact is
deeply personal. Nearly half (47%)
say they fear for their safety at work,
while over two million have expe
rienced violence or abuse. Worry
ingly, almost three-quarters of staff
(73%) admit they avoid confronting
shoplifters altogether, a reflection
of both safety concerns and limited
confidence that offenders will face
consequences.
With high-value items such as
meat, alcohol, baby formula and beau
ty products topping theft lists, the
burden falls on already squeezed re
tailers to protect stock and safeguard
colleagues. The figures underline
the urgency for stronger collabora
tion between businesses, police and
policymakers to restore confidence
and ensure retail spaces remain safe
for staff and customers alike.
Shoplifting: the new pandemic
New figures place in stark relief the true
burden on retailers and staff from crime,
including abuse, threats and violence