When A Shoplifter Turns Violent: A Guide For Security Officers

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Security guard conducting a body check of a retail crime suspect

Security Industry

Maryam Alavi

Updated:

Published:

November 4, 2026

2 Min Read

Maryam Alavi

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When a stop on the shop floor turns physical, you want to know what comes next: who turns up, what gets recorded, and what the law does about it. There’s a lot of talk about that right now. Parliament has passed a new offence for assaulting retail workers that isn’t switched on yet, and there have been concerns about whether violent shoplifters face prison.

Here’s a calm look at what’s confirmed, what’s being said, and what you can do on shift.

What Happens After An Assault

Once you’re safe, the steps are the same wherever you work:

Police are expected to prioritise these calls. The Home Office says the police’s Retail Crime Action Plan commits them to prioritise attendance where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs securing. The police say attendance is assessed on risk.
Your footage helps. The National Business Crime Centre says police will run secured CCTV or digital images through the Police National Database using facial recognition to help identify offenders.
Your report counts. In our survey of 537 security professionals, 92% of officers who had been physically assaulted reported it. But 38% didn’t report violence they saw happen to colleagues. Report both.

The Bigger Picture

Violence and abuse towards retail workers are still a serious issue, and the figures are moving in the right direction. The Home Office’s retail crime factsheet cites British Retail Consortium (BRC) figures of around 1,600 incidents a day for September 2024 to August 2025, down from about 2,000. That’s around 590,000 incidents over the year, down 20%. The Home Office also says charges for shop theft rose 17% in a year, to 116,641.

What’s Being Said About Sentences

On 28 October, the Telegraph reported concerns that violent shoplifters are being spared prison. It links this to prison overcrowding and the Government’s plan to release 4,500 prisoners early over ten months, and to the fact that the new offence for assaulting a retail worker hasn’t started. The shadow home secretary criticised the Government, and the Home Office said it is making this a specific offence. Those are the parties’ own claims, and we’re not taking a side.

What’s confirmed:

The offence is law but not live. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 got Royal Assent on 29 April, and as of the Telegraph’s report no start date had been announced.
When it starts, the penalty is up to six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine, with a presumption that courts impose a criminal behaviour order on a first conviction. That could bar someone from the shop. Full Fact has the details.
Until then, legal commentators say assaults on shop staff are charged under the existing assault laws.
The retail industry wants a date. The BRC is asking for one during the national week of action on retail crime, 9 to 15 November.

Does The New Offence Cover You?

Retail security guards: Probably. It protects anyone working on or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier. The Act doesn’t name security staff, so check with your employer.
Door supervisors on pub, club or event doors: No. The Home Office told the Lords its definition is deliberately narrow and excludes hospitality staff. Assaulting you is already a crime.
In Scotland, you’ve had your own offence since 2021, covering assault, threats and abuse.

What You Can Do On Shift

Know your powers. Our blog on what security guards can and can’t do covers detention. Also keep our free Security Officer’s Manual handy.
Log it and keep the footage. A clear record makes the police’s job easier.
De-escalate first. Read this article on conflict management training to learn what to do next.
Talk to your manager. If an incident shakes you, you’re not expected to just get on with it. Speak to your supervisor.

What To Take Away

Three things are worth holding onto:

Your report and footage give police what they need. They’ve committed to prioritising calls where violence has been used towards shop staff or store security has detained someone, though attendance is assessed on risk.
The new offence adds tools when it starts. That includes a presumption of criminal behaviour order, which could keep an offender away from a shop. The retail industry is asking for a start date during the 9 to 15 November week of action, so watch for it.
The basics still do the heavy lifting. Know your powers, de-escalate first and look after yourself afterwards.

If you’re a door supervisor, this offence isn’t written for pub and club doors, but assaulting you is already a crime, and your reports matter just as much.

Want to enhance your skills? Explore CCTV training and Close Protection training to see where security work can take you next.

This blog is for informational purposes only. Please verify details independently before making decisions. Get Licensed is not liable for any actions based on this content.

By Maryam Alavi

Content Marketing Manager

Maryam explores security career opportunities, licensing processes, and industry developments. She provides clear, accessible guidance for individuals entering or progressing within the sector. Her work inspires confidence for learners taking their first steps into security careers.

When A Shoplifter Turns Violent: A Guide For Security Officers

Maryam Alavi

Table of Content

Here’s a calm look at what’s confirmed, what’s being said, and what you can do on shift.

What Happens After An Assault

Once you’re safe, the steps are the same wherever you work:

Police are expected to prioritise these calls. The Home Office says the police’s Retail Crime Action Plan commits them to prioritise attendance where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs securing. The police say attendance is assessed on risk.
Your footage helps. The National Business Crime Centre says police will run secured CCTV or digital images through the Police National Database using facial recognition to help identify offenders.
Your report counts. In our survey of 537 security professionals, 92% of officers who had been physically assaulted reported it. But 38% didn’t report violence they saw happen to colleagues. Report both.

The Bigger Picture

What’s Being Said About Sentences

What’s confirmed:

The offence is law but not live. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 got Royal Assent on 29 April, and as of the Telegraph’s report no start date had been announced.
When it starts, the penalty is up to six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine, with a presumption that courts impose a criminal behaviour order on a first conviction. That could bar someone from the shop. Full Fact has the details.
Until then, legal commentators say assaults on shop staff are charged under the existing assault laws.
The retail industry wants a date. The BRC is asking for one during the national week of action on retail crime, 9 to 15 November.

Does The New Offence Cover You?

Retail security guards: Probably. It protects anyone working on or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier. The Act doesn’t name security staff, so check with your employer.
Door supervisors on pub, club or event doors: No. The Home Office told the Lords its definition is deliberately narrow and excludes hospitality staff. Assaulting you is already a crime.
In Scotland, you’ve had your own offence since 2021, covering assault, threats and abuse.

What You Can Do On Shift

Know your powers. Our blog on what security guards can and can’t do covers detention. Also keep our free Security Officer’s Manual handy.
Log it and keep the footage. A clear record makes the police’s job easier.
De-escalate first. Read this article on conflict management training to learn what to do next.
Talk to your manager. If an incident shakes you, you’re not expected to just get on with it. Speak to your supervisor.

What To Take Away

Three things are worth holding onto:

Your report and footage give police what they need. They’ve committed to prioritising calls where violence has been used towards shop staff or store security has detained someone, though attendance is assessed on risk.
The new offence adds tools when it starts. That includes a presumption of criminal behaviour order, which could keep an offender away from a shop. The retail industry is asking for a start date during the 9 to 15 November week of action, so watch for it.
The basics still do the heavy lifting. Know your powers, de-escalate first and look after yourself afterwards.

If you’re a door supervisor, this offence isn’t written for pub and club doors, but assaulting you is already a crime, and your reports matter just as much.

Want to enhance your skills? Explore CCTV training and Close Protection training to see where security work can take you next.

This blog is for informational purposes only. Please verify details independently before making decisions. Get Licensed is not liable for any actions based on this content.

By Maryam Alavi

Content Marketing Manager