Almost a quarter of the UK population have witnessed shoplifting taking place while at a shop in the last 12 months, according to new research by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The organisation also found that around 23 per cent of customers have seen the physical or verbal abuse of staff including racial or sexual abuse, physical assault or threats with weapons.

Customers in Nottingham witnessed the most shoplifting, with around 32 per cent witnessing an incident, while 29 per cent of London-based shoppers have seen an incident.

Shoppers were least likely to see shoplifting in Plymouth and Belfast, where rates were 12 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

In January, the BRC’s annual crime survey found that retail crime is at the highest level on record with losses reaching £2.2 billion. It also revealed that there were over 2,000 incidents of violence and abuse over 2023-2024, more than triple the levels recorded in 2020.

Separately, shopworkers’ union Usdaw, has produced its own research which shows 77 per cent of retail staff experience abuse, with 53 per cent on the receiving end of threats and 10 per cent experiencing assault.

These incidents are also not restricted to those working in stores, with delivery drivers often subjected to abuse, physical violence, and threats with weapons.

As a result, many are being equipped with protective measures, such as personal safety devices to alert the police of their whereabouts, and DNA spit testing kits.

The BRC said that crime cost retailers around £4.2 billion last year which includes £2.2 billion from shoplifting, and another £1.8 billion spent on crime prevention measures such as CCTV, more security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras.

The organisation warned that these costs add to the wider cost pressures retailers already face, further limiting investment and pushing up prices for customers everywhere.

While the government is taking action to address retail crime through the new Crime and Policing Bill, the trade association warned that it needs to go further to protect all retail staff working in customer facing roles including delivery drivers.

The Bill currently includes a standalone offence which will improve the visibility of violence so that police can allocate appropriate resources to the challenge.

Additionally, it also seeks to remove the £200 threshold of “low level” theft, which the BRC believes will send a clear signal that all shoplifting is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said that seeing incidents of theft or abuse has become a common part of the shopping experience for many people.

“While an incident can be over in a matter of seconds, it can have life-long consequences on those who experience it, making them think twice about visiting their local high streets,” she added. “Criminals are becoming bolder and more aggressive, and decisive action is needed to put an end to it.”

Earlier this week, new figures released by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) revealed that there were around 6.2 million incidents of shop theft recorded at convenience stores over the past 12 months.

The organisation's 2025 Crime Report revealed another record level of theft committed against local shops, with the number rising from 5.6 million in the previous year.

The report also found that crime cost convenience retailers an estimated £316 million over the period.

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