Crime, shoplifting, and anti-social behavior have surged 35% year-on-year, with over 175,000 incidents recorded by Co-op in the first six months of this year, averaging nearly 1,000 incidents every day.
The Co-op has raised concern over this escalating crime, as one inner-city London store experienced three incidents of looting in a single day. The convenience retailer warns that if this level of crime continues, certain communities may become no-go areas for local stores.
With a focus on the welfare of its members, colleagues, and communities, the Co-op urges all police forces and crime commissioners to prioritize apprehending prolific offenders and local organized criminal gangs. They aim to reverse the current environment in many cities, where these criminals operate without fear of detection or prosecution.
Statistics indicate that repeat and prolific offenders, fueled by drug or alcohol addictions and linked to organized criminal gangs, account for nearly two-thirds (63%) of all crimes committed.
A significant concern highlighted by the Co-op’s Freedom of Information request is that the police failed to respond to 71% of serious retail crimes reported, with some not attending to nine out of ten incidents based on their own data.
Unfortunately, the repercussions of such crimes often lead to physical assaults, abuse, and anti-social behavior. Co-op revealed that front-line store workers have experienced a year-on-year increase of almost one-third (30%) in physical assaults, as well as a fifth (20%) rise in incidents of anti-social behavior and verbal abuse.
Co-op Food’s Managing Director, Matt Hood, explains the urgent need for change, stating, “We witness brazen and violent theft in our stores, where our colleagues feel scared and threatened. Moreover, this criminal behavior erodes the very fabric of our communities. Urgent action is essential.”
Despite Co-op’s significant investments in ensuring the safety of colleagues and stores, they emphasize that the police must also fulfill their role. Co-op often encounters situations where the authorities fail to respond to desperate appeals from their store teams, permitting criminals to operate without consequences within communities.
James Lowman, Chief Executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), shares their concern, acknowledging the growing deterioration of crime in local communities. Organized criminals and repeat offenders intentionally target local shops, stealing goods for resale. This illicit activity exploits vulnerable people by coercing them to steal in exchange for drugs, fuels illegal drug trade, and harms businesses that are essential to communities.
Phillip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on customer service, criticizes the patchy performance of police forces uncovered by the Co-op. He stresses the need for proper investigation and punishment of offenders, irrespective of stricter laws in place. Davies calls for forces with inadequate records to learn from those with exemplary performance and raise their own standards accordingly.
Police Inspector Oliver Vale of Nottinghamshire Police acknowledges the issue of retail crime and the necessity for proactive measures. He highlights the effective collaboration between the police and Co-op through Op Synergy, resulting in significant convictions and prohibitive orders against notable retail offenders.
In summary, addressing the rising trend of crime is crucial to ensuring the safety of communities and providing better protection for frontline workers. To achieve this, police forces need to actively combat theft, violence, and anti-social behavior in and around local shops. By targeting the criminals who perpetrate the majority of these crimes, communities can be made safer.