Press Releases

ACS has welcomed a commitment from Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP to get tougher on the ‘epidemic’ of shoplifting gangs through the introduction of new laws for attacking a shopworker.

In her speech to the Labour Party Conference this morning, the Shadow Home Secretary highlighted the issues being faced by retailers and shopworkers across the UK with theft and abuse, and the challenges that they’re dealing with when it comes to getting meaningful intervention from the police.

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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to give convenience store retailers the incentives necessary to invest in the safety, security and long term future of their businesses. 

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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Prime Minister’s Conservative Party Conference speech, highlighting the convenience sector’s strong record on age restricted sales. 

In his speech to CPC in Manchester today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced future Government plans to change the law on the sale of tobacco so that the age of sale rises by one year, every year. Similar policies are already in place in New Zealand. The Prime Minister stated that the vote will be a free vote and not one that is subject to a government whip. 

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A coalition of business groups and shopworkers union USDAW, representing tens of thousands of retailers and store colleagues, has written to police leaders in England and Wales setting out a three-point plan to turn the tide on shop theft. 

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First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced the Scottish Programme for Government which outlines the legislative priorities for the next parliamentary year.

Announced today (5th September) the programme includes plans to address vaping in Scotland both in terms of use of vaping products by nonsmokers and young people and tackling the environmental impact of single-use vapes.

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In a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, a coalition of businesses, charities and consumer groups, including ACS, have called for urgent action to protect cash as a critical payment method for both consumers and businesses.

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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on energy regulator Ofgem to take urgent action to limit the way that suppliers can put non-domestic customers onto expensive deemed rates, as part of a wider ambition to make the market fairer and more transparent. 

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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has announced the finalists of the 2023 Raj Aggarwal Trophy, marking the legacy of independent retailer and community champion Raj Aggarwal.

The trophy will be awarded to retailers who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community retailing over the last year, supporting their colleagues, customers and fellow retailers.

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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed new measures which have been introduced to protect free access to cash across the UK.

Announced today (18th August) under a new framework set out by the Treasury, consumers and businesses are set to be no further than three miles away from withdrawing cash.

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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched a new campaign aimed at cracking down on rogue vape sales and supporting responsible retailers.

As part of the campaign, ACS has published new Challenge25 materials specific to vaping to help responsible retailers when serving customers. Challenging customers who look underage is one of the biggest triggers of abuse (ACS Crime Report 2023), so signposting retailers’ responsibilities can be an effective way of reducing the risk of confrontation. 

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