In the retail trade we frequently suffered from criminal activity, from burglaries, thefts, arson, embezzlement, fraud, often involving our staff!
External crime was also always with us. Burglary was common, so was robbery, let alone assaults on staff from shoplifters and the like. Knives, fists, spit, and general assault all happened, with the increasing need for CCTV, and advanced alarm systems linked to the various security monitoring companies.
What is different now is of course the increased level of violent crime aimed at the staff, and it is happening in areas that were once considered "free from crime", or at least hardly ever happened.
Why? Simples, because:
1) police staffing has fallen dramatically;
2) society is populated with individuals who have no morals, who do not respect the law, and know that 95% of the time they will "get away with it"
3) if and when a culprit, sorry, suspect is caught the evidence has to be so watertight for the CPS to even think about charges;
4) then if eventually convicted a suspended prison sentence or a community order is the worst they can expect!
Until our society teaches and adheres to the rules of "respect" and moral disciplines, which our dear leaders often seem to break, and the rules, regulations, and penalties for indiscipline are vigoursly enforces from the first year at school to being an OAP, then it can only get worse.
It is down to us to DEMAND that our politicians change their ways via the voting system, whilst we all look at ourselves and question how we act, what we do, and the example we are setting the young.
The retail counter was in the past a great place for social interaction; communities often used those places to talk through issues and communicate to others what was upsetting or pleasing the general population around that shop. Now, with local shops decimated, and large retailers getting rid of staff, or inhibiting their freedom to talk to "the regulars" and general customers, with "smart" or at least self check outs becoming the increasing norm, the old advantages to whole communities given by local friendly retailers and their staff is going. That is leading to the general loss of respect for the retail unit as it just becomes a place to go and buy your requirements, or just nick from!
Staff are now faceless and easy targets for the yobs and generally unscrupulous members of the public who come from across the generations. Very sad, and upsetting to see this change in my life time, which is, I fear, almost irreversible. Only an act of God, or a dramatic change in political and social norms will change things!