The violence was related either to the sale of alcohol products or violence by people under the influence.
For drugs, the position was worse with half (50%) of retailers saying it was “often” the cause of violence and 17% “sometimes” the cause.
Retailers were asked whether the violence incidents were attributable to people buying tobacco.
A quarter (25%) said tobacco was “often” the cause and 23% “sometimes”. The violence retailers face comes in many forms.
One-in-five (22%) retailers experienced robbery over the past year and 13% suffered physical assault, 26% experienced verbal abuse and 11% were threatened with a weapon.
On-in-five (18%) experienced intimidation or threats from customers during the 12-month period. Retailers face violence on an ongoing basis. A third (33%) of retailers suffering violence more than five times over the year and a clear majority, 63%, believe “violence and anti-social” behaviour is worse that it was 12 months ago.
Retailers are however, going to the police in growing numbers with 80% saying they “always” reported crime. A quarter (23%) of those polled said they rated police forces¹ efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour and violent crime as “much better” over the past 12 months.
In 2007 when retailers were asked the same question, 7% though police efforts were much better. This time round, 27% thought police forces¹ efforts were “better”, 39% thought they were the “same” and 11% “worse”.
Because of the rising levels of violence, an increasing number of retailers (26%) have considered giving up their business over the past 12 months, compared to just 11.2% in 2007 when the survey was last carried out.
The telephone survey was carried out in April with 360 UK retailers by Marketing Addiction.
john.kirwan@nexusmedia.com
