Businesses should treat repeated anti-social behaviour (ASB) around shops as a serious business and safety issue rather than a minor nuisance, the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) has advised.
The warning comes as new figures show the scale of ASB across England and Wales remains significant. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2026, 40.9 per cent of people experienced or witnessed ASB, up from 35.5 per cent the previous year. Police-recorded ASB incidents, including those recorded by British Transport Police, remained at around one million.
For convenience retailers and their staff, ASB can include intimidation, verbal abuse, vandalism, public drinking, drug-related activity, aggressive behaviour and groups obstructing shop entrances.
The NBCC said such incidents can make employees feel unsafe, discourage customers from visiting and, when repeated, result in property damage, additional security costs and disruption to trading.
It stressed that businesses should not regard ASB as “simply part of the job”, particularly where incidents occur repeatedly over days, weeks or months.
Five practical steps for retailers
1. Put staff safety first
Employees should not be expected to confront individuals if doing so could put them at risk. Retailers should have clear procedures covering when staff should withdraw, contact security, call police or seek emergency assistance.
The NBCC advises businesses to call 999 where a crime is in progress or there is an immediate risk to life or property. Non-emergency incidents should be reported through the appropriate police or local authority channels.
2. Keep a consistent incident log
Retailers should record the date, time and location of incidents, the behaviour observed, descriptions of those involved, witnesses, whether CCTV is available and the impact on the business.
Any incident reference numbers should also be retained.
The NBCC said consistent and factual records can help identify patterns, repeat offenders and locations or times where problems are concentrated.
3. Report incidents through the right channels
Responsibility for tackling ASB can involve multiple organisations, including police, local authorities, housing providers, landlords and other agencies.
Businesses should make sure employees understand how and where incidents should be reported.
The NBCC stressed that consistent reporting remains important even where an immediate response is not possible, as individual reports can contribute to the wider intelligence picture.
4. Work with local partners
Persistent ASB is unlikely to be resolved by one organisation acting alone.
Retailers should consider working with neighbouring businesses, Business Improvement Districts, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships, local police and councils, landlords and security providers.
Lawful information sharing can help identify patterns, coordinate preventative measures and support targeted interventions.
5. Show the wider impact on the business
Retailers should record more than the incident itself and consider its wider consequences.
This could include employees changing how they travel to work, customers avoiding particular times or locations, cleaning, repair or security costs, and effects on neighbouring businesses.
The NBCC recommends using a Business Impact Statement to explain how crime or ASB has affected employees, customers, finances and day-to-day operations.
Where persistent ASB has been reported but remains unresolved, businesses may also be able to request an ASB Case Review, formerly known as the community trigger, subject to the locally determined threshold. This allows relevant agencies to review the response and consider whether further action is available.
Retailers can also reduce opportunities for ASB
The NBCC said businesses can consider environmental measures such as improving lighting and visibility, managing waste promptly, reviewing CCTV coverage and assessing the layout around entrances.
However, it cautioned that measures should reflect the specific problem and should not simply transfer ASB to neighbouring premises.
The organisation said businesses have an important role in recognising, recording and reporting ASB, but should not be expected to resolve complex community problems alone.
“The most effective responses combine good business procedures, intelligence sharing and coordinated action by local partners,” the NBCC said.
It advised retailers to review their ASB procedures and ensure employees know how to stay safe, where to report incidents and how to record their impact.
“Early, accurate information gives local partners the best opportunity to intervene before the harm escalates,” it added.