ACS is urging retailers to write to their Police and Crime Commissioners, highlighting the problems that crime cause in their store and calling on them to pledge to ensure that police forces take shop theft and abuse of staff seriously.
The pledges that PCCs are being asked to sign up to include:
- confronting reoffending, particularly prolific reoffenders with drug dependencies and organised criminal gangs
- working to standards on what a ‘good response’ to shop theft looks like, supporting retailer led crime prevention, developing and sharing best practice with retailers, and encouraging them to report shop theft in line with these standards
- always responding promptly to shop theft where violence is involved or where a suspect is detained
Figures from the 2018 ACS Crime Report show that theft cost each store in the convenience sector over £1,700 on average last year.
ACS has already received cross party support from Police and Crime Commissioners.
Commenting on the impact of retail crime, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Jane Kennedy said: "Nobody should go to work fearing violence, threats or abuse. Shop workers provide a valuable service to our communities. The impact of criminal attacks on shop premises can be huge and have significant long-term effects on both employees and businesses. This is why I welcome Merseyside Police’s decision to continue their campaign on retail crime and invest significant resources to combat shoplifting and robberies at premises across the region."
An Early Day Motion tabled by All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group chair Ruth George MP on the importance of dealing with shop theft has received cross party support from MPs. Early Day Motion 1415 has currently received 19 signatures from members of the Labour Party, Conservative Party, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and the DUP.
A template letter for retailers concerned about the impact of theft and abuse on their business to send to their local PCC, asking them to sign up to the pledge, is available here.
