Indies fighting back against crime wave

A reduction in sales was the obvious result of the latest recession and a huge worry for all independent retailers but it wasn't the only problem.

As the recession deepened it seems many people were resorting to extreme measures to make ends meet and the number of thefts and robberies from shops started to soar.

According to the British Retail Consortium the number of thefts from shops has risen by a third in just one year with incidents of violence or abuse of staff doubling but it seems many incidents are not reported with many smaller crimes such as minor shoplifting going unpunished.

Last year was the first time that the BRC assessed the proportion of crime not reported to the police and in the Retail Crime Survey 2009, published back in January, it estimated that two thirds of customer thefts (shoplifting) were not reported.

But what are retailers supposed to do to fight back against this latest crime wave? Well the BRC suggest that the police need to increase focus on tackling serious and organised crime against businesses, more effective engagement between police and local retailers so retailers are seen as key members in the community and actively involved in setting local crime priorities and including local retailers experiences of business crime in the local assessments and policing plans.

They are all good and valid ideas but remain fixed in policies and policing. If, as a retailer, you would like more immediate help then you will be glad to hear that the Government is stepping in.

On Saturday Drapers Online reported that independents are set to receive £5 million in grants as part of the Retail Crime Action Plan. Businesses were invited to apply for the funding last year and now the funds have been allocated to indies and groups of indies who have come together to fight crime in their area.

The grants can be used to buy security equipment such as alarms and security grills and the groups may use the money to help expand schemes like ShopWatch and provide retailers with radios so they are able to communicate with those around them.

It is unclear how many indies will benefit from this Scheme as the Home Office have declined to publish a list of those in receipt of a grant but do say that the scheme is aimed at those who need it most. Suffice to say it is, at least, a step in the right direction to help those who are suffering at the hand of shoplifters.

While the recession is no excuse for turning to crime we can only hope that as the recovery starts the incidents of crime, and especially violent crime, in shops starts to go back down.

Until then, stay safe.

To read the Drapers Online article click here

To read more about the BRC's Retail Crime Survey 2009 click here

To read more about the Government's Retail Crime Action Plan click here