Budget retailer Poundland is cracking down on shoplifters and is issuing staff with headsets – and even bodycams – as part of its Against Retail Crime initiative.
Poundland has revealed it lost more than £40 million worth of stock last year due to crime, as well as increasing cases of staff abuse.
“Whether it’s store theft undermining all our colleagues’ hard work, or incidents of violence and abuse making our colleagues feel unsafe at work, something must change.”
The new initiative will see all staff wearing headsets, allowing quicker communication between workers, as well as additional undercover guards.
The stores which have seen the most crime will also fit staff with bodycams. A trial of the bodycams has been successful, seeing an 11 per cent reduction in violence against staff.
Looking for some tips on how to protect your shop from shoplifters? Read our full guide.
Is shoplifting on the rise?
The latest numbers from the Office for National Statistics reveals that shoplifting is at its highest level in 20 years.
The UK saw 443,995 shoplifting offences in the year ending March 2024. This was a 30 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Additionally, 26 per cent of businesses in the wholesale and retail sectors experienced theft during the previous 12 months.
The most commonly shoplifted products
An annual crime report from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) revealed that the ten most commonly shoplifted items are:
- Meat
- Alcohol
- Confectionery
- Cheese
- Soft drinks
- Coffee
- Household items (cleaning products etc)
- Vapes
- Tobacco
- Health/pharmacy products
Do police investigate shoplifting in the UK?
Security guards are able to make a citizen’s arrest if someone is caught shoplifting. Under the Criminal Law Act 1967, security guards are also able to use ‘reasonable force’ to detain a shoplifter.
If detained until the police arrive, the shoplifter could be arrested and either given a caution or be put on trial – though both options come with a criminal record. If put on the trial, the shoplifter could receive:
- a maximum sentence of up to six months’ custody, if the goods are worth less than £200
- a maximum sentence of up to seven years’ custody, if the goods are worth more than £200
Have you experienced shoplifting in your small business? Let us know how it’s affected you in the comments below.
More retail guides for small businesses
- How to increase footfall in a retail store or local shop
- Visual merchandising – tips for your small retail business
- Sale of goods and Consumer Rights Act 2015: guide for small businesses
- What is shop insurance?
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