ACS is calling on all retailers to take part in its annual Crime Survey ahead of the launch of the 2025 Crime Report next year.

The survey highlights the impact of crime in the convenience sector, the experiences of retailers in dealing with and trying to prevent crime, the relationships that retailers have with the police and wider justice system, and the ways that retailers are investing in crime prevention and detection measures.

ACS is urging both small and large convenience store retailers to take part in the survey, as every response is important in providing a comprehensive picture of crime in our sector. The findings of the Crime Survey are presented in the ACS Crime Report every year, which we use to inform MPs, officials, the police and other decision makers about the reality of the situation facing convenience stores on the ground. The 2024 Crime Report has received widespread coverage in both the media and in parliament, especially in raising awareness about the significant gap between ONS figures on reported crimes and retailer feedback on the number of crimes that are taking place.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We urge everyone in the convenience sector to respond to our Crime Survey, whatever their experiences of crime have been over the last year. We have made progress in raising the profile of shop theft and abuse against retailers, but there is much more to do to make sure that theft is treated as a crime and investigated every time it’s reported.”

To take part in the survey, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACSCrime2025. The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and closes on January 17th 2025.

A PDF of the questionnaire can be found here to help you collate the information you might need.

For any questions about the survey, please contact Rosie Wiggins.