'UK Pharmacies Call for Tougher Response to Increasing Crime'

 The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is calling on the NHS and police to respond more robustly to what it says is escalating crime against pharmacies, warning that the current response is inadequate and disproportionate. The NPA represents around 6000 independent community pharmacies across the UK.

While reports of thefts from pharmacies are part of a wider trend of escalating retail crime, shop thefts, and town centre antisocial behaviour, the NPA said that pharmacies were in a particularly vulnerable position. As "the front door to the NHS," pharmacies are highly accessible to patients. 

They often have extended opening hours compared with neighbouring shops, business premises, or primary care facilities. Their stock includes valuable prescription medicines and some controlled drugs. 

Why Pharmacies Are More Vulnerable 

This means pharmacies are at higher risk for law-breaking, especially burglaries and break-ins with attempted thefts of prescription medicines, and regular shoplifting. Staff members are more vulnerable to aggressive or violent behaviour, including assaults. Pharmacies are not like other shops on the high street, the NPA said.

An NPA survey of around 400 pharmacies across the UK found that in the last year, 89% had experienced shoplifting, 11% had experienced burglaries involving attempted theft of prescription medicines, and 21% reported criminal damage. In addition, 78% had seen staff harassment, 35% had seen staff members assaulted, and 3% had witnessed sexual assaults on staff.

Most Say Police Response Is Inadequate 

Almost 1 in 3 pharmacies had chosen not to report incidents to the police, largely citing concerns about response time. Of those who did report crimes, 93% said they received an "insufficient response," and many told the NPA that reports of shoplifting were not prioritised. 

Some said they were offered only a crime reference number for low-value items, with one pharmacy being told that they would be contacted within 2 weeks. One anonymous contributor commented that staff continually dealt with abuse from members of the public, who often acknowledged that their frustration lay with other healthcare providers, "but as we are the most accessible profession, we bear the brunt."

Even though pharmacies receive around 90% of their income from the NHS, they receive no funding for security improvements. Pharmacies often have to resort to providing their own security measures, and NPA members noted that spending on costly entry and exit systems, security staff, and panic alarms came at the expense of investing in new services for patients. 

Security Measures 

Last year, Boots said it had deployed body camera technology across pharmacy locations in 390 of its stores to deter violence and aggression.

The NPA is calling on the NHS to provide security arrangements and funding for pharmacies as it does for GPs, and for police to provide a stronger response and prioritise pharmacy-related crimes.

NPA Chair Olivier Picard said in a press release that the survey results were "very worrying" and showed the lack of support for pharmacies when they report what can be long-running, costly, and serious crimes to the police. The association was concerned that police did not have the resources to tackle such crimes adequately.

"Pharmacies are not like ordinary shops on the high street,” he said. “Not only do they provide a vital health service to their patients, but they also stock prescription medicines. Theft of medication from a pharmacy, such as strong pain relief or benzodiazepines, could have serious consequence for someone’s health."

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/pharmacies-call-tougher-response-increasing-crime-2026a1000wxe