UK retailers that use Auror, the intelligence platform used to record crime and connect the dots to repeat offenders, achieved a 24% drop in the rate of violent events compared to 2025.

London and Manchester high street shops saw a 21% and 20% reduction in the rate of in-store violence, respectively. Retailer reporting in Auror also showed the top 10% of offenders are responsible for up to 70% of retail crime.

Auror General Manager UK and Europe, Mark Gleeson, said there’s broad recognition that high levels of violence and organised crime are impacting our high streets, and this new data shows retailers are committed to doing something about it.

Safer high streets

“Retailers have been world-class in their approach to get on top of this issue; understanding that creating safer high streets is a shared responsibility and have responded by coming together as a network to fight back,” he said.

“Stores are able to make more informed decisions about risk and safety by focusing on the top offenders driving the majority of harm across retail, and using that intelligence to work more effectively with police.

“Retailers are doing a phenomenal job, but we know there’s still more to be done to create safer retail spaces for everybody.

“Structured crime reporting, continued collaboration with police, and responsible risk detection technology for retailers will be key to building on this progress into the future.”

Driving down violence

UK food-on-the-go retailer Greggs is one of many retailers driving down violence and abuse significantly across its shops, creating a safer environment for colleagues and customers.

Greggs CEO, Roisin Currie CBE, said: “The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is always our priority. 

“Retail crime remains a challenge for retailers across the UK, which is why we continue to invest in a range of measures to help keep our shops safe and welcoming places to work and visit.

“Through our use of Auror, alongside other security measures and close collaboration with police and industry partners, we’re improving how incidents are reported, helping to identify repeat offenders and supporting more effective action against those causing the greatest harm.

“We’re encouraged to see the positive impact we’re having and remain committed to doing everything we can to reduce retail crime, support enforcement action and help ensure offenders face the consequences of their actions.”

CeX Head of Loss Prevention, Derrick Gough, said “Auror has helped us to determine where our most impacted stores are within our network, and where threats and violence are taking place.

“It enables our Operations team with insights to ensure we’re looking after our frontline colleagues so they feel safe.”

Collaborative approach

Health, wellness and beauty retailer Boots, and health and wellness retailer Holland and Barrett, have also embraced a collaborative approach to crime reporting through Auror, sharply reducing serious events over consecutive years. 

The focus of police on tackling retail crime in partnership with retailers has also powered these results.

Auror’s direct-to-police reporting (DTPR) functionality for retailers allowed police in London to quadruple their positive outcome rate for retail crime offences (a charge, arrest, conviction or justice-based outcome), while many other forces across the country have also doubled outcome rates.

Auror is on a shared mission to reduce violent retail crime by 50% in five years by supporting retailers with tech-enabled collaboration, stronger partnerships, and responsible risk detection tools to create safer stores.