Press Releases

ACS has welcomed new guidelines to help protect retail employees from violence in the workplace.

Government has published the results of the latest Commercial Victimisation Survey, showing that the retail and wholesale sector experiences more crime than all other sectors.

The survey revealed that shop theft is the most common crime experienced by wholesalers and retailers, with 3.3 million incidents of customer theft reported in the survey.

ACS has launched a new report setting out the impact of crime on the convenience sector and as well as revealing new research, the Crime Report 2014 includes guidance to help retailers manage the cost of crime against their stores.

The Crime Report 2014, launched today at the ACS Crime Seminar in London, features a detailed account of the costs, both human and monetary, of crime including shop theft, burglary, robbery and violence

Key findings from the report are:

Local shops have responded to news that the Low Pay Commission have recommended a 3% increase in the National Minimum Wage, expressing concerns over the potential increase and its impact on jobs and business investment.

Crimestoppers and the Association of Convenience Stores offer reward of up to £20k for information on attempted murder of shopkeeper in Plaistow.

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and its partner, the Association of Convenience Stores are offering a reward of up to £20,000 for crucial information leading to an arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the attempted murder and attempted robbery of a shop owner and his employee in Plaistow, London.

ACS has responded to the publication of two consultations from Ofgem, calling for more to be done to tackle problems faced by retailers when dealing with energy companies.

ACS has responded to the Home Office’s announcement of a consultation on locally set license fees, calling for clarity on the level of the cap for cost recovery. 

The consultation proposes that licensing authorities will be able to recover costs incurred through the licensing function.

ACS has welcomed the publication of a review into the way business rates are administered led by the Treasury and Department for Communities and Local Government.

Local shops have welcomed an announcement from Government that will see all businesses affected by flooding given 100% rate relief.

ACS has called on the Chancellor to shut down the black market in alcohol and tobacco in its submission ahead of the 2014 Budget.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “The level of alcohol and tobacco duty fraud in the UK needs to be addressed immediately through adequate enforcement on both the local and national level. By increasing in alcohol and tobacco duty, the Chancellor will only drive customers away from legitimate retail and toward the illicit trade.