The UK’s shoplifting problem has reached a record high at corner shops, according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
Crime rates at corner shops rose to 17,000 incidents a day and cost said shops £316m last year.
The ACS said in 2024, 6.2 million thefts were recorded, up from 5.6 million the previous year. Store colleagues faced more than 59,000 incidents of violence and 1.2 million incidents of verbal abuse.
The data arrives as the government aims to make changes in its Crime and Policing Bill, including tackling anti-social behaviour, cracking down on thefts of items worth under £200, and making it a standalone offence to assault a shop worker.
The ACS said the legislation marked a “long-overdue turning point on retail crime”.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The levels of theft, abuse and violence experienced by retailers over the last year make for shocking reading, but it will not surprise our members who are living it on a daily basis.
“Criminals targeting local shops without fear of reproach cannot be allowed to continue.”
Convenience stores have spent a total of £265m on tech and support to stop crime over the past year, including adding more CCTV, giving staff body cameras and putting perspex screens in place.
The ACS said store owners in corner shops are now spending more time on training staff how to use crime prevention equipment to ensure it is as effective as possible.
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