Co-op urges communities blighted by retail crime to call on Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidates to commit to a crack-down on criminals

24 April 2024

Co-op urges colleagues, member-owners and communities blighted by retail crime to write to their Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) candidates and call on them to commit to a crack-down on criminals.

The retail industry has seen an unprecedented rise in retail crime driven by repeat and prolific offenders, and ahead of the PCC elections on 2 May Co-op is urging communities to write to PCC candidates in their region, calling on them to commit to the following pledges:

- Fully implement the commitments in the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Retail Crime Action Plan
- Ensure the new stand-alone offence of assault against a shopworker is enforced and progress is reported through their Police and Crime Plan

Co-op colleagues and member-owners have campaigned for six years for change following unprecedented levels of unchecked retail crime, attacks and assaults – with criminals acted with impunity and seemingly free from fear of any consequences.

Last October saw the launch of NPCC’s Retail Crime Action plan, which set out measures to tackle the rise in shoplifting – which is all too often a flashpoint for violence, abuse and anti-social behaviour; catch more offenders and keep retail workers safe. Then, earlier this month (10 April), the Government announced plans to make assaulting a retail worker a standalone criminal offence in England and Wales – providing shop workers with the protection they deserve and sending a clear message that there will be tough consequences for this unacceptable behaviour.

Co-op believes this amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill will, if enforced, build on the advancements seen to address crime, violence and intimidation since the introduction of the Retail Crime Action Plan last October. However, without the commitment of the PCC’s to focus on retail crime, both of these new steps could face failure.

Paul Gerrard, Co-op Director of Campaign and Public Affairs, said: ”Retail crime impacts shopworkers both physically and mentally, with many communities blighted by unacceptable levels of persistent and prolific offending. Newly elected PCCs have the opportunity to crack-down on retail crime through the implementation of the Retail Crime Action Plan and by enforcing the new standalone offence of assaulting a shopworker - we are calling on the next PCCs to deliver the protection that those working in retail and, serving communities in towns, villages and cities across the UK, deserve.”

Earlier this year, Co-op revealed that retail crime had hit record levels. This coincided with the launch of a hard-hitting new report commissioned by Co-op, and written by Professor of Criminology at City, University of London, Emmeline Taylor, which set out a ten point plan** focused on turning the tide on prolific offenders who relentlessly blight communities and wreak physical and mental harm on store workers. Central to the report’s recommendations was making an attack on shopworkers a stand-alone offence - something the Co-op has campaigned for since 2018.

Co-op has invested more than £200 million over recent years in colleague and store safety and security, this includes the latest interactive CCTV; body-worn cameras – which Co-op has used since 2019 to capture real time audio and visual footage at the touch of a button; the roll-out of fortified kiosks; use of dummy (or empty) packaging to deter bulk-theft and, covert (undercover) and non-covert guarding - with the tactical use of specially trained guards to detain criminals.

Write to your PCC and urge them to tackle retail crime via the following link: here

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Editor Notes:

Retail Crime Data:
Co-op revealed that last year (2023) it experienced:

• More than one-third of a million incidents of shoplifting, abuse, violence and anti-social behaviour (up 44% YOY) – equating to approaching 1,000 incidents every day across its 2,400 stores
• The convenience retailer saw over 1,325 physical assaults against store workers in 2023 (up 34% YOY) - that is three or four colleagues attacked or assaulted every day
• More than 40,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour and abuse (up 37%) This is despite Co-op introducing over £200M of preventative measures over recent years to make its stores and communities safer

New report:
Stealing with Impunity - the policing of prolific local offenders and the impact on our shops and communities - here

REPORT – 10 RECOMMENDATIONS:

Legislation and Regulation:

• Introduce a standalone offence for the Protection of Retail Workers • Repeal Section 176 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
• Regulation of e-commerce sites and online marketplaces

Policing:

• Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to commit to developing a strategy to tackle prolific retail crime in their Police and Crime Plans
• Review of the Retail Crime Action Plan to include measurable key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Introduction of a ‘retail flag’ to identify in the Police National Database (PND) and criminal justice case management systems when a crime has taken place in a retail setting
• Campaign to target the stolen goods market

Courts and Sentencing:

• Introduce Specialist ‘Intensive Supervision Courts’ for Retail Crime
• Presumption against custodial sentences of less than 6 months

Independent Advisor/Oversight Board:

• Appoint an Independent Advisor / Oversight Board

About Co-op:

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates almost 2,400 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 6,000 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited. Employing 56,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of over £11billion and is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.

Further information:

Andrew Torr
Senior Press Officer, Co-op Press Office
M: 07702505551
E: andrew.torr@coop.co.uk / pressoffice@coop.co.uk