LEGAL AND SOCIAL CHANGES AFFECTING UK RETAILERS′ RESPONSE TO CONSUMER THEFT

In difficult retail trading conditions, and as price‐led strategies become more common, cost control is a very high priority for retailers. The problem faced by UK retailers is that many of the factors influencing the rising trend of consumer theft are outside their control. Identifies some of the social and political factors involved. Based on interviews with retailers a general security strategy of containing consumer theft and actively driving down other “unaccounted” stock losses emerged. However, within this general strategy each retailer adapted it to their particular needs and capabilities.