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Small Business Strategy Inquiry 2025 - ACT and Bira call for members to share their voice

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on... Read more…

Beyond the discount: Restoring integrity to the cycle supply chain

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.
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Bira welcomes Wales' business rates proposals but calls for key improvements

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street... Read more…

New awards launch to champion Britain's independent high street heroes

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring... Read more…

"Tectonic shift" in employment law threatens independent retailer viability, warns Bira podcast

6 Jun 2025

Independent retailers are facing a "generational" transformation of employment law that could fundamentally change how small businesses operate, according to the final episode of Bira's first... Read more…

Retailers hope warm weather and bank holidays will boost high street sales

16 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said that members are hopeful the warm weather, Easter weekend and upcoming bank holidays will provide a much-needed boost to high street sales.
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Economic growth surges to 0.7%, but "April reality check" looms for high street retailers

15 May 2025

UK economy delivers strongest quarterly performance in a year despite forecasts of business downturn.
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Communities come together for Local Bike Shop Day 2025 celebrations

13 May 2025

Local Bike Shop Day 2025 brought a wave of... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira welcomes Bank of England's latest interest rate cut

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has welcomed the Bank of England's decision to reduce interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, calling it a "much-needed boost" for the retail sector, including for cycling... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira responds to Beales' "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" as iconic store makes final protest

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has responded to the news that the 144-year-old Beales department store is staging a "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" in its final weeks of trading, with giant yellow... Read more…

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Trade association welcomes Home Office ‘back-to-basics’ retail crime promise

Posted on in Business News

The recent pledge by police forces across England and Wales to pursue every lead that holds a reasonable chance of apprehending criminals and solving crimes has been welcomed by Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK.

police cars It described this ‘back-to-basics’ approach as marking “a significant milestone in addressing the rising concerns of retail crime, particularly theft and violence, from an independent trader’s perspective.” Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre, said it was important that all crimes be reported for the method to work properly.

He said: “We must stress the need to report these crimes, as it is the most effective way to prompt police prioritisation. Our collaboration with law enforcement is crucial to restoring safety and confidence among retailers.

“Over the past few weeks, Bira has been actively raising concerns about the surge in retail crime and its impact on the independent retail sector. This initiative led to us meeting with the minister for policing, police and crime commissioners, chief constables, and other retail groups, reaffirming the urgent need to address these issues and bolster retailer confidence,” he added.

Bira’s contribution to the British Retail Consortium‘s (BRC) survey further highlights the severity of the situation.

“The survey reveals a staggering 27% increase in reported incidents over the past 12 months, with the total value of theft exceeding £2.8bn. This escalating problem, coupled with escalating violence towards retail employees, necessitates a more proactive approach from relevant authorities.

“Shop theft, while not new, has flourished due to years of low prioritisation by the police, resulting in a low-risk, high-reward environment that now involves highly organised elements. Independent retailers have voiced their concerns, likening the problem to looting incidents, with offenders growing increasingly audacious,” added Goodacre.

To regain control of our high streets, Bira advocates for several critical measures:

  • Simplifying the process of reporting crimes and submitting relevant evidence, addressing the hours-long ordeal faced by some retailers when completing online forms.
  • Targeting regular offenders with prosecutions and banning orders, as a high percentage of crimes are committed by this group.
  • Providing clarity on the use of evidence and images, including CCTV and mobile recordings.
  • Increasing police presence on high streets, leveraging the higher numbers of police officers and PCSOs.
  • Ensuring that convictions lead to custodial sentences for perpetrators.
  • Dismantling the networks employed by organised criminals to traffic stolen goods.

A failure to curb shop theft and anti-social behaviours threatens to transform our high streets into no-go zones, endangering a vital aspect of our society. Figures show that despite the growth of online shopping, more than 70% of retail sales still occur in physical stores. High streets foster community interactions, social gatherings, and meaningful connections.

Bira said it acknowledges that while the retail landscape is evolving, our high streets remain essential for creating welcoming and safe spaces.

Goodacre added: “Isolation is detrimental to people, as we’ve learned from Covid. High streets provide contact, social gatherings, and interaction – they require our support now more than ever to ensure their preservation.”

“The commitment by police forces to pursue leads and solve crimes is a significant step towards achieving this goal. Bira stands ready to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to enhance security and safety on our high streets.”

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