ACS

Over 50 convenience store retailers based around Luton have met to discuss how to work together and with the police, trading standards, MPs and local authorities to promote vibrant stores in communities. The meeting, held in Luton and organised by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) focused on partnership working.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: Professional retailers want to work in partnership with the police and local regulators. Too often retailers see double-standards when the police and other authorities complain of a lack of resources to tackle crime in and around shops, while finding manpower to conduct test purchases and for other enforcement measures against local shops. It was gratifying to see the police and local authority in Luton taking a genuine partnership approach to working with retailers.

“This meeting was an important first step towards a new era of partnership working between shops and regulators. We will run further events around the country to tackle these important issues.”

Local retailer Bas Patel said: “The police should be doing more to tackle proxy purchasing of alcohol. Many children get hold of alcohol because adults buy it and pass it on, but even when we can supply good CCTV evidence that this is happening the police don’t want to act. I hope this meeting will make the police think about this problem and work with businesses like mine who want to assist them.”

Kishor Patel, who runs six shops in and around Luton and who as an ACS ambassador helped to market the event and chair the meeting, said: “We have found partnerships like Streetwatch really beneficial to our business. At our Toddington store we now have eight Streetwatch wardens including our manager and supervisor who are a presence in the local community and help to tackle anti-social behaviour, litter and other problems by walking the local area and sharing information with the authorities. This event was about sharing positive ideas like this and showcasing the great work that ACS does to help retailers to comply with legislation.”

The meeting was opened by newly-elected MP Gavin Shuker (Labour, Luton South) who said: “Local shops are at the heart of our communities, and many neighbourhoods in this constituency would be poorer without them. I want local retailers to be badgering me or whoever their MP is to make sure we know the problems and challenges they are facing in their businesses. MPs want to be accessible to their constituents, and I’m looking forward to working with retailers in Luton South.”

Contacts:

Shane Brennan, Public Affairs Director
01252 533009 / 07921 372978

Chris Noice, Communications Assistant
01252 533013

Notes to Editors:

1. ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of local shops, representing over 33,500 convenience stores. ACS helps local shops thrive through lobbying, support and networking opportunities.

2. The meeting heard from: Gavin Shuker MP, Ramesh Patel, Luton Trading Standards, PC Michael Robinson, Bedfordshire Constabulary, Gary Bilborough, store manager, Nisa Local Toddington, Cathy Mercer, Caravan, Kishor Patel, Bas Patel and the ACS team of James Lowman, Shane Brennan, Amy Searle, Jenny Brown and Sarah Johnson.