Counter rising retail violence with Vismo

Ben Godbold

Violence towards shop workers continues to grow

The global rise in shoplifting has had significant repercussions on the safety of retail workers, with violence and abuse against staff now reaching critical levels. In the UK, according to the British Retail Consortium(BRC) Crime Survey, the number of daily incidents rose by 50% in the year to September 2023, averaging 1,300 per day—up from 870 the year before. This includes physical assaults, verbal abuse, and threats involving weapons, with approximately 8,800 incidents resulting in injuries over the same year​.

​Violence against shop staff is growing

The aggression directed at retail workers often stems from confrontations during theft attempts, disagreements over age restrictions, or refusals to serve intoxicated customers. Such encounters have become more frequent as the cost-of-living crisis increases. ​Furthermore, verbal abuse has become a near-daily reality for many workers, with 87% of UK retail staff experiencing it in the past year, as detailed by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) in its 2024 Crime Report. This persistent hostility has prompted calls from industry bodies, such as the ACS and BRC, for enhanced legal protections and government action, including a standalone offence for violence against retail workers to ensure greater accountability​

Economic costs of shoplifting

In the UK, losses due to theft reached £1.8 billion in 2023, the highest ever recorded and double the amount from previous years. This trend is seen here in the US too, with Hayes international’s Retail Theft Survey reporting that shoplifting cost US businesses nearly $40 billion in 2023.

Technology as a safeguard

As a vital part of our Locate & Protect app, Vismo's panic button can offer support for retail employees facing aggressive shoplifters. This emergency response solution can also be paired with RapidSOS to help workers quickly alert field responders or emergency services, providing real-time tracking and immediate assistance when staff are threatened. Designed for fast, intuitive use, the panic button enables employees to prioritize safety without escalating the situation, offering peace of mind and a reliable safeguard against violence.

As retailers work to mitigate shoplifting and its associated risks, emergency response tools like Vismo's can be essential in protecting your frontline employees. For more information on how Vismo helps our clients see our case studies, view our licence options or contact the team for a demo.