Local store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has shared findings of retail crime at a meeting of the Welsh Cross Party Group on Small Shops, chaired by Vikki Howells MS.
During the meeting, ACS highlighted the level of crime experience by convenience stores, including shop theft, abuse and violence, burglaries and robberies. The meeting also heard from Tenby retailer Vince Malone, who shared his experience of crimes committed against his business.
ACS has been calling on all Police and Crime Commissioners to engage with the Stop Shop Theft campaign, which encourages Commissioners to share important information about the single point of contact in their area for business crime and the most effective way for retailers to report crime locally. To date, almost one in four PCCs have responded to requests from ACS and retailers to provide this information.
South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael joined the meeting to discuss how retail crime is being tackled in South Wales, building on the work that has been done to implement the Retail Crime Action Plan.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “Tackling crimes like theft and abuse remains one of the top priorities of retailers, who have historically been frustrated with the consistency and effectiveness of police response. With Police and Crime Commissioner elections coming in May this year, this is an important time for retailers to have their voices heard and to hold PCCs to account on their plans to deal with retail crime locally.”
The ACS Crime Report will be launched at the Safe and Responsible Retailing Conference on March 5 in central Birmingham.
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