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Tackling retail crime a priority, says Policing Minister

13 Feb 2023

The Policing Minister Chris Philp has said that tackling retail crime is a priority.
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The 1975 named as ambassadors for this year’s Record Store Day

13 Feb 2023

Record Store Day has unveiled indie rock band The 1975 as this year’s RSD ambassadors.
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Bike prices predicted to fall in 2023 due to excess stock, but not across the board

6 Feb 2023

Predictions of a slowdown in demand for bikes may contribute to an industry-wide decrease in prices, with the Bicycle Association reporting UK bike sales down by a quarter against Covid levels.
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Nearly two thirds of consumers committed to sustainability despite cost-of-living pressures

2 Feb 2023

A new report from Shopify has shown that sustainability conscious shopping is on the rise. Consumer interest in green products has remained robust, despite inflation and other economic... Read more…

Shop price inflation hits record heights & peak is yet to arrive

2 Feb 2023

Shop prices have reached record highs after inflation accelerated in January, with a warning that the peak is yet to arrive.
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Proposed deposit return scheme could put strain on indie retailers

2 Feb 2023

A new deposit return scheme announced by the Government to make it easier for people to recycle plastic bottles and drink cans will put a strain on independent retailers, according to industry... Read more…

Shop occupancy rates improve despite cost-of-living crisis

30 Jan 2023

The number of shops lying vacant on British high streets fell during the final three months of 2022, despite pressure on both companies and consumers from the rising cost of living.
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Bike Europe has reported Halfords’ financial statement demonstrating that cycling sales have dropped to pre-covid levels.

18 Jan 2023

The article reports that, in 2021, Halfords saw its annual cycling sales double and stocks dry up. However, by the middle of 2022, it says, warning signs were appearing as inflation and supply... Read more…

Seaside town bucks the trend with indie retail thriving

16 Jan 2023

Weston-super-Mare seems to be one town in the UK bucking the national trend, with new shops opening and businesses reporting an increase in trade, according to a report by Bristol Live.
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Indie bookshop numbers hit 10-year high in 2022 defying tough retail climate

16 Jan 2023

The number of independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland climbed to a 10-year high in 2022, as the book trade defied the odds in an otherwise tough year for high street retailers.
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Tackling retail crime a priority, says Policing Minister

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

The Policing Minister Chris Philp has said that tackling retail crime is a priority.

As part of The Federation of Independent Retailers’ political engagement strategy and commitment to raising awareness in the government of the scale of retail crime, national president Jason Birks wrote to the Minister in December, inviting him to attend a meeting of the All-Party Parliament Group on Retail Crime to hear first-hand the true extent of such crimes and the impact they have on victims.

In his letter, Mr Birks called on Mr Philp to consider installing a swifter, more purposeful reporting mechanism and to encourage a better response to retail crime from police forces. He also called for victim impact statements to be made available to all if a case goes to court.

Mr Birks said: “The failure to protect retailers has undermined confidence in both the police and the criminal justice system. The refusal to attend incidences that are deemed as low value or to have measured insufficient ‘threat’ levels have left retailers frustrated, as repeat offenders seem to steal and threaten with impunity.

“Low value theft creates a larger financial impact on our members. Failure to offer a victim statement usually worsens the situation, as victims are denied the opportunity to explain the impact an offence has had on them personally and the impact on the business which they’ve spent years building up.
“Retail crime is not a victimless crime, and all victims should be offered the opportunity to complete victim and business impact statements.”

In his reply, Mr Philp said: “I am committed to keeping our retail environments safe by driving down crime in retail settings, including violence and abuse towards shop staff.

“Shops are the lifeblood of our communities and neighbourhoods, and retail workers have the right to feel safe at work. As you know, I chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), which is a valuable forum for understanding the crime concerns of the sector and bringing together Government, policing, and the sector to ensure we can work together to tackle crime.

“I take the issue of violence and abuse against retail workers seriously and I am clear that any assault on any worker, particularly those providing a service to the public, is unacceptable.”

Mr Philp confirmed that he believes all victims of retail crime should be offered the opportunity to complete victim and business impact statements.

He said: “The use of victim impact statements is crucial in capturing the impact on the victim themselves, but also the impact on the business as a whole or other colleagues who may be affected by witnessing a crime.

“Reporting crime to the police is the first crucial step in ensuring an appropriate police response. Shop theft, particularly when committed by prolific offenders, is most effectively tackled when retailers and local policing teams work together, for example through Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP) and other initiatives to share information about crime.

“I encourage retailers to join their local BCRP or Business Improvement District (BID) to support local community efforts to reduce crimes like shoplifting. Partnership working between retailers and the police is important to help ensure an effective response to crimes reported.”
He added: “I hope this response reassures you that the Government is working hard to tackle the issue of retail crime and I look forward to continuing to work together to keep our retail environments safe and drive down retail crime.

Mr Birks said: “It is encouraging to hear that the minister is aware of the growing problem of retail crime and that he intends to take action to tackle it.

“However, actions speak louder than words, and we will keep up the pressure on MPs, police and crime commissioners and the police to do more to eradicate retail crime.”

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