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New stores helping Cardiff arcades buck retail trends.

18 Apr 2024

Eleven new businesses that have opened in the last year in the historic arcades of Cardiff city centre’s Morgan Quarter, made up of the Morgan and Royal arcades, have helped the arcades... Read more…

Study highlights impact of rising staff costs for convenience retailers.

3 Apr 2024

Research by the University of Stirling and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation has shed light on the impact of rising staff costs on the convenience retail sector in Scotland.
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Independent department stores hitting a sweet spot on local high streets.

3 Apr 2024

With large national chains increasingly disappearing from the high street, Drapers magazine has been looking at how independent department stores are stepping up their offerings to... Read more…

Entries open for 2024 Baking Industry Awards

2 Apr 2024

The Baking Industry Awards return for their 37th year and are once again ready to recognise and reward the very best people, products, and businesses in the sector. The awards showcase the... Read more…

Family-owned cycle shop celebrates 90 years trading in Walsall.

2 Apr 2024

Walsall's cycling community has been celebrating a family-owned business which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
 
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Payment-processing outages at UK retailers raise reliability issues for cashless transactions.

2 Apr 2024

Recent payment disruptions at supermarkets and fast-food outlets have raised questions on the need for improved reliability.
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North Yorkshire cycle hub up for top tourism award

22 Mar 2024

Rob Brown, co-director of Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, a not-for-profit hire scheme has been nominated for the Tourism Superstar 2024 award, run by VisitEngland.
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Independent retail bodies welcome new report aimed at tackling retail crime.

21 Mar 2024

ACS (The Association of Convenience Stores) and the Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) have both welcomed a new report published by the Association of Police and Crime... Read more…

Indie retailers outperformed supermarkets in sales of organic food, wellness and beauty products in 2023.

21 Mar 2024

As reported by Healthstores UK, new data contained in the 2024 Soil Association Organic Market report shows that independent retailers delivered an impressive 10% growth in 2023, with... Read more…

Cheltenham beer shop and bar wins top UK award.

21 Mar 2024

An independent bottle shop and bar in Cheltenham has been named as the UK's Independent Beer and Wine Retailer of the Year 2024 at the Drinks Retailing Awards. 
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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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