Press Releases

The Ministry of Justice has published data on the number of penalty notices issued for shop theft under £100, showing a significant decline over the last ten years.

The statistical bulletin covering the year ending June 2019 found a 95% decline since 2009 from 49,445 penalty notices issued for shop theft offences under £100 to 2,278.  Penalty notices or out of court disposals, are the most commonly used approach when dealing with shop theft offenders.

ACS has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping retailers and colleagues safe in local shops with the renewal of its partnership with crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers.

Crimestoppers and ACS have been in partnership since 2010, and have worked to raise awareness of violence against local shops, while also offering rewards of up to £50,000 per incident for serious crimes that have been committed in shops within local communities.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Communities and Local Government Committee, raising concerns about the negative impact that localising business rates would have on convenience retailers.

Andy Wightman MSP has tabled an amendment to the Non Domestic Rates(Scotland) Bill which would allow local authorities to set the poundage rate and impose additional levies and supplements on retailers. The amendment could effectively abolish nationally-set reliefs including the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the proposed introduction of a new Sentencing Bill in the Queen’s Speech and action to cut business rates for local shops.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched guidance for retailers on the upcoming ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes which comes into force from 20th May 2020.

The European Union Revised Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) makes it an offence for manufacturers to produce menthol cigarettes and retailers to sell menthol cigarettes from 20th May 2020.

The Welsh Government has announced plans to proceed with an Order to remove Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) from ATMs as of April next year.

The decision follows a consultation launched by the Welsh Government which sought views on the Non-Domestic Rating (Small Business Relief) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2019 and the provision of free-to-use ATMs and access to cash in Wales.

Convenience retailers are responding with caution to continued uncertainty around the Brexit process and the upcoming General Election by delaying and scaling back on investments in their stores over the last year.

Figures from the Association of Convenience Stores’ Investment Tracker show that in the 12 months to November 2019, the UK’s 46,000 local shops have invested £558m in their businesses, down from £737m in the previous year – a year on year decline of 24%.

New research launched today (3^rd December) by the Association of Convenience Stores has revealed the important role that convenience stores play to both the economy and local communities in Wales.

The 2020 Welsh Local Shop Report revealed that 62% of local shops in Wales operate in rural locations, providing essential services to their local communities, including bill payment services (79%), cash machines (68%) and Post Offices (25%).

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to host store visits during the General Election campaign 2019 with their local candidates to communicate the important economic and social contribution that convenience retailers make to their communities.

Hosting a store visit is an effective way for retailers to ensure that their local candidates are aware of the issues that affect their business and can also help them to understand how to support the people and businesses in the convenience sector.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has highlighted the convenience sector’s commitment to providing free water refills to customers in response to a new report from Greenpeace.