The facilities management (FM) and security contractor Mitie and the charity and 0800 555 111 freephone crime reporting line Crimestoppers are asking people to report any information they may have about crime against local businesses.
The appeal comes alongside the FM firm’s latest white paper, ‘The Threat to Retail in a Post-Covid World’, published with Crimestoppers. The six-page report outlines some of the biggest threats facing retail in a post-covid world, and how the public can help prevent harm against local businesses and shop staff.
Shops and businesses play a crucial role in society, and many of their staff are key workers because of the essential services they provide. Yet according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), harm against shop workers is on the rise, as featured in the May print edition of Professional Security magazine. There have been over 1.2 million incidents of verbal abuse and 40,000 acts of violence against those working in convenience stores over the past year; and such incidents, in retail and in workplaces generally, are assumed to be much under-reported. More than a quarter of these cases involved a weapon, such as hammers, knives, axes or syringes.
The report also identifies the factors and wider trends that are fuelling this rise in crime against retail. For example, with over 4,000 organised crime groups (OCGs) thought to be operating in the UK, organised crime affects more people and leads to more deaths than terrorism,the FM contractor points out. A turbulent economy and social tension, both effects of the recent national lockdowns, are factors that will increase the threat from OCGs, the report suggests. While the risk of terrorism remains relatively low, crowds, particularly in retail spaces, are a known target. Environmental design of the retail space makes certain types of attack more difficult, however human intelligence is fundamental to preventing these crimes, the report says.
Jason Towse, pictured, Managing Director, Business Services, Mitie, said: “The re-opening of shops, bars and restaurants is a relief to many of us and has already seen a sharp increase in footfall across retail spaces. However, it is the right of anyone working in retail to do their job free from harm, without fear of abuse or violence. The physical and verbal abuse of people trying to serve customers is just as unacceptable as theft or fraud.
“As part of getting the UK back to normal, we are calling on the great British public to support local businesses, not just by getting back to the high street, but by helping stamp out crime and reporting any criminal activity anonymously through the Crimestoppers service.”
And Mick Duthie, Director of Operations at Crimestoppers, said: “It’s very sad to think that at a time when we relied on retail staff even more during the pandemic, that so many of them encountered verbal and physical abuse, on a daily basis. Retail staff should be appreciated by us all and thanked, not abused.
“If you have information on anybody you know has been violent or abusive towards retail staff or if you have any information on those involved in organised crime, criminal damage against a business premises or any crime, you can contact Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously, always. Our charity’s UK Contact Centre is open 24/7 on 0800 555 111 or you can use our simple and secure anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.”
Separately, Crimestoppers recently launched a campaign urging the public to ‘ShopKind‘.
More on violence against retail in the June print edition of Professional Security magazine.
