UK Shop Workers Face Unprecedented Violence and Theft

Incidents of abuse and shoplifting soar, prompting calls for tougher legislation and government action.

Violence and abuse against UK shop workers have risen to 1,300 incidents a day, marking a 50% increase from the previous year.
The British Retail Consortium criticizes the government's inadequate response to the crisis, as incidents range from racial abuse to physical assault.
Shoplifting incidents have more than doubled, with 16.7 million occurrences reported, leading to a record £1.8 billion loss for retailers.
Retailers call for violence against shop workers to be made a standalone offence in England and Wales, mirroring legislation in Scotland.
The government's Retail Crime Action Plan offers some hope, with commitments to prioritize crime scenes involving violence against shop workers.