Merseyside Police unites with business leaders to tackle retail crime

Today, Wednesday 19 March, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Emily Spurrell, officers from Merseyside Police, and business leaders from across the region are coming together for National Business Crime Reduction Partnership Week (BCRP) to tackle the growing issue of retail crime.

As part of the initiative, 30 retailers and business groups are meeting with the PCC and local officers for a Retail Forum, aimed at setting out practical steps to combat retail crime including shoplifting and violence against shop workers.

This is the second forum the PCC will host in the aims to provide constructive discussions that will enhance business security and build closer partnerships between businesses and the police.

Store managers, security specialists, and operation leads from shops such as Sainsburys, The Range, Boots, Asda and TK Maxx, as well as from St Johns Shopping Centre, Liverpool One and the Royal Albert Dock, will all be in attendance to share their views, concerns and best practice. 

The first roundtable, which took place March 2024, discussed the need for continued reporting, better evidence quality, effective use of banning orders, and addressing the issue of repeat offenders.

During that time, the PCC and Merseyside Police have rolled out their QR code reporting system to Merseyside businesses, as well as installing 100 SelectaDNA Intruder Spray Kits in shops across the city centre. 

Shoplifting offences are at the highest rate ever recorded in the British Retail Consortium’s crime survey, having risen by over 50% nationally in the past year. In Merseyside, cases have surged significantly with an 18% increase in September 2023-24 compared to September 2022-23. 

This rise in shoplifting offences highlights the need for enhanced security measures and community awareness to address and mitigate this issue effectively.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: 

“Retailers and local businesses are the backbone of our communities and provide a vital service to our region. 

“Today’s forum is an opportunity for those businesses to have their say and provide feedback on the violence, abuse and shoplifting that affects their stores. It is also a chance for the police to update on the work that is already on-going to tackle it.

“We know the impact retail crime, including theft, fraud, and violence, poses to the industry, affecting businesses, employees, and consumers. 

“The numbers speak for themselves, but behind every statistic is the harsh reality for those who work in the industry – whether it be a store owner dealing with repeat break-ins and stock stolen, an employee attacked physically and verbally, or a shopper having witnessed or been involved in a violent encounter. These are real people in our community and these experiences drive home the urgency of this issue. 

“Shoplifting is not the acceptable price of working in retail and should not have to be tolerated. Similarly, being subject to threats or abuse should never be part of the job. It is imperative that we work collaboratively to mitigate these significant threats and safeguard the prosperity of our businesses and the well-being of our communities.

“Working with business owners and employees, we are focused on initiatives that work to protect businesses, their employees, and customers. I am committed to leading the fight on the crime and anti-social behaviour that affects retailers, and these roundtables are just the beginning of a sustained, ongoing and productive dialogue that will help us to reduce retail crime in Merseyside.”

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