ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed calls from consumer group Which? urging commitment from the next Government to guarantee access to cash after new analysis revealed that hundreds of communities do not have access to a single ATM.
Today (14th November) Which? revealed that there are over 250 communities across the UK that have poor ATM provision or no ATMs at all. A further 129 communities have access to only one ATM and 65% of these are charged cash machines.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has given evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on the proposed regulations of a deposit return scheme in Scotland.
In the evidence session, ACS called for the Scottish Government to ensure that the regulations consider the impact on local shops, emphasising the operational, cost and time pressures that the draft regulations would have on the colleagues in store.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is supporting USDAW’s Respect for Shopworkers Week, highlighting the need for urgent action to tackle violence and abuse towards shopworkers.
Taking place between 11th-17th November, this year’s theme is ‘Keep Your Cool’, reminding the public that there is never an excuse for violent or abusive behaviour.
The Home Office call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff closed in June and received over 800 responses from individual shopworkers, small shopkeepers, unions and business organisations.
ACS has raised retailers’ concerns about the tobacco track and trace system to the European Commission with the support of Independent Retail Europe.
The tobacco track and trace regulations were introduced by the European Union in the Revised Tobacco Products Directive and came into effect on 20th May 2019.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is supporting the launch of a Charter to help make workplaces safer for employers and employees.
Launched on National Personal Safety Day (7th November) ‘Suzy’s Charter for Workplace Safety’ was developed to help identify and mitigate personal safety risks in the workplace.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has worked with ACS and a wide variety of organisations, over the last year including unions, large and small businesses as well as the police and employees themselves to develop the details of the Charter.
ACS has announced the shortlist of companies who will be present at the 2019 Security Showcase.
Taking place in Manchester on 27th November, the event provides retailers with an exclusive chance to hear from experts about the latest developments in crime prevention equipment and how it can be used to protect their business and staff.
The event builds on ACS’ Crime Report, “It’s Not Part of the Job” campaign with the Home Office, and ongoing political lobbying to get better support for retailers and their colleagues.
Alongside ten other business groups, ACS has written to the Welsh Finance Secretary Rebecca Evans AM urging her to consider more frequent revaluations of business rates in Wales.
The joint letter calls for the Welsh Government to bring business rates revaluations forward to every three years rather than every five years to bring the nation in line with proposals in England and Scotland.
The eleven business groups represent a number of sectors including retail, hospitality, commercial property, construction, and leisure.
Home Office Minister Kit Malthouse MP has committed to a review of the £200 threshold for the police prosecuting shop theft offences after the General Election, as part of a debate on retail crime in Parliament today.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the findings of a report from the House of Commons Petitions Committee’s inquiry on the sale and use of fireworks.
The inquiry was launched as result of a number of petitions from the public expressing concerns about the impact of fireworks and calls for tighter restrictions and a total ban on public sales and use.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has written to the Minister of State for the Home Office Kit Malthouse MP, calling for an urgent response to the call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shopworkers ahead of a parliamentary debate on prevention of retail crime.
In the letter, ACS revealed that there has been an estimated 200,000 assaults and threats of people working in retail and wholesale sector since the Home Office’s call for evidence closed.
