ACS

A £5 million fund for small retailers to buy security devices such as alarms, UV markers or radios and an online assessment tool are part of a new Retail Crime Action Plan unveiled by Home Office Minister Alan Campbell today.

The Retail Crime Action Plan (RCAP), which has been drawn up in partnership with the retail industry, details a broad range of actions to tackle crimes against retailers and small businesses. They include:

* A £5 million Small Retailer Grants Fund which will provide grants of up to £3,000 to small businesses in 50 priority areas, to buy security devices such as alarms, UV markers to detect counterfeit notes, security grills or dye packs to mark goods. Partnerships of small retailers can bid for grants of up to £50,000 to help improve a neighbourhood and reduce the risk of crime;
* A risk assessment tool, developed by crime prevention experts, which businesses can complete online to identify simple measures they can take to reduce the risk of crime; and
* A competition to find new ways of "designing out" crime opportunities in small businesses, which will be launched in September 2009.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said: "Small businesses play a vital role in our communities and I am determined to ensure that small businesses are not taken advantage of during these hard economic times, by providing real support where it is most needed.

"From today we are providing real help to businesses with a £5 million fund to pay for improved security in the places it is most needed.

"The Government is committed to working with industry and police to tackle the crimes that affect them such as shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and robbery, particularly during this economic downturn, where certain crimes will face upward pressure."

Retailers will be able to bid for grants through their local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). Groups of businesses in a certain area, such as a parade of shops, can also team up to bid for bigger grants of up to £50,000. These can be used to improve a neighbourhood with landscaping or additional lighting.

James Lowman, Chief Executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said: "This funding will make a practical difference for hundreds of retailers trading in communities. Retail crime is not victimless, causing distress for staff and business owners and costing money that undermines the viability of an important community service. Helping businesses to prevent persistent crime will benefit the whole community."

The RCAP has been developed with the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) and also includes a commitment to find out more about the crimes which affect retailers by developing a new Commercial Victimisation Study. It will also look at what more can be done to help victims of business crime and encourage work between businesses, the Police and CDRPS.

The online tool is available on the Home Office website and can be completed in a few minutes. Retailers are then given advice on simple things they can do to improve the security of their store and who they can contact for help. The interactive risk assessment tool is available on the Home Office's website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/secureyourbusiness

The areas eligible to bid for grants from the Small Retailer Grants Fund are: Middlesbrough; Kingston upon Hull, City of Easington; Birmingham; Blackburn with Darwen; Hartlepool; Newham; Stoke-on-Trent; Blackpool; Bradford; Pendle; Leicester; Haringey; Hastings; Oldham; North East Lincolnshire; Preston; Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Barrow-in-Furness; Sheffield; Wolverhampton; Burnley; Sunderland; Bolton; Doncaster; Merthyr Tydfil; Wansbeck; Redcar and Cleveland; Great Yarmouth; Mansfield; Walsall; Barnsley; Blaenau Gwent; Derby; Coventry; Thanet; Wigan; Rhondda Cynon Taf; Wakefield; Darlington; Kirklees; Barking and Dagenham; Tameside; Waltham Forest; Torbay; Swansea; Norwich; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Lincoln; Lancaster; Scarborough; Wirral; Dudley; Sefton; Neath Port Talbot; Hyndburn; Gateshead; and South Tyneside

The National Retail Crime Steering Group was set up in 2007 and is currently chaired by Home Office Minister for Crime Reduction Alan Campbell. It includes some of Britain's largest retailers and all the major retail trade bodies, including the British Retail Consortium, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Association of Convenience Stores. They are joined by representatives from central and regional government and the Police. The group provides a forum to discuss and devise strategies for tackling crimes of concern to retailers.

ACS members can also access crime reduction advice here.