Retail Safety & Security in the Spotlight in 2025: The Threat & What You Can Do About It
Blog: Retail Safety & Security in the Spotlight in 2025: The Threat & What You Can Do About It Published: 07/03/2025
Retail Safety & Security In The Spotlight 2025: The Threat & What You Can Do About It
Recent statistics about retail worker safety and crime in the UK paint a grim picture about the current issues facing the sector. With shrinkage up by 33% since the Covid 19 Pandemic and theft at a 20 year high – driven in part by a huge increase in organised gang related shoplifting – it is now more important than ever for retailers to invest in the safety of their staff and security of their businesses.
The bottom line is that nobody should feel unsafe at work. Unfortunately, however, safety concerns about crime are a growing issue among many retail employees. According to the Motorola Solutions 2024 Survey And Report Into UK Retail Worker Safety, an alarmingly high number of staff had experienced thefts, witnessed physical attacks on colleagues, or fallen victim to physical or verbal abuse in-store over the previous 12 months:
- 56% witnessed shoplifting or petty theft
- 46% witnessed a ‘grab and run’ incident
- 34% reported suspicious individuals loitering in the shop
- 31% experienced organised retail crime
- 15% witnessed physical attacks on colleagues
- 14% identified vandalism taking place in-store
- 8% witnessed drugtaking and other illegal activities on the premises
The season of ill will
This hostile and worrying atmosphere was even worse in the run-up to Christmas, with 41% of retail employees being concerned about their personal safety heading into the holiday season. Worryingly, over half of survey participants (51%) felt that shoplifting and petty crime had increased over the past year, with 27% reporting that organised criminal gang activity was more common than it was before.
Nightshift workers feel especially vulnerable, with nearly half of employees feeling less safe during an evening or night shift, rising to 54% in the case of female retail workers.
Did you know?
Body worn cameras and two-way radio devices can reverse this trend, protect your stock, and safeguard your workforce.
Despite an overall increase in crime and antisocial behaviour nationwide, in 2024, The Pepco Group (owners of Poundland, Dealz and Pepco) managed to reduce shoplifting by 11% within six months after deploying Motorola Solutions VT100 body cameras in 177 Poundland and Dealz shops across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Staff also noticed significant reductions in aggression, threatening, and antisocial behaviour. And this is only the tip of the iceberg of what could be achieved. Currently, only one in three UK retail establishments use two-way radios, and only a quarter use body worn cameras.
Following the success of the body worn cameras rollout, Poundland management are considering increasing deployment from 2- 6 cameras per shift to a greater number to further reduce shrinkage and threats to staff.
The Investigations Manager for Poundland, Adam Starkey, has been pleased with the initial results. While stores without the body cameras have seen a significant increase in violent and weaponised crime in line with national figures, many of the spotlight stores (shops flagged for high shrinkage levels) have benefited from a marked decrease in shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. Adam had the following to say:
“Body cameras are a great visual deterrent. Since installation of the body cameras, we have seen a significant reduction in serious incidents. Colleagues have commented that the cameras support their confidence in dealing with antisocial behaviour, and they feel more protected in their working environment.”
Next steps
CSE Crosscom are a Motorola Solutions Platinum Reseller and a UK specialist in body worn security devices and two-way radios. To find out more about the benefits to worker safety in your organisation, please contact one of our experienced team today.