Security cash for stores hit by shoplifting
Local independent retailers are being encouraged to apply for cash to invest in security to help fight back against a shoplifting ‘epidemic’.
Created by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Safer Shops West allows local independent businesses to apply for a grant of up to £2,000 towards the costs of security measures such as CCTV, hand-held radios and body cams.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who heads the authority, wanted to introduce the scheme after a 41% increase in shoplifting was recorded in the West of England over the past year alone. To apply for funding, which is available until March 31, go to www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/safershopswest.
Speaking at the launch of the scheme at St Peter’s Convenience Store in Headley Park – second in Bristol’s list of shoplifting ‘hotpots’ – Mr Norris said: “The fightback starts now.
“It’s law-abiding citizens that suffer from the shoplifting epidemic. Shops put up prices to make up for the lost goods – making the cost-ofliving crisis even worse. And hardworking shopkeepers are in the firing line.”
Speaking ahead of the launch, Shafique Awan, who owns St Peter’s Rise Convenience Store, said: “There have been times when someone stole ‘tonnes’ of chocolate from the aisle filling a bag, twice. Once a person actually got into the storeroom and wiped out the cigarettes and tobacco. Abusive customers are also an issue.
“We are glad to host the Mayor and welcome Safer Shops West.”
CEO of the British Independent Retail Association Andrew Goodacre said: “We wholeheartedly support this initiative by the West of England Mayor. The current level of retail crime is totally unacceptable, and the smaller retailer simply cannot afford extra security staff to help manage the problem. Having access to this kind of fund will help the smaller retailers to run their business better by protecting their people, their customers and their stock. We also hope it will help the police to secure convictions against the regular perpetrators with better use of data and images. We will be encouraging all our members to apply for a grant and hopefully this scheme will be replicated around the UK.”
Safer Shops West has also been backed by shopworkers union Usdaw and the Association of Convenience Stores, which is offering West of England stores free guidance to help them to identify the most effective use of their grants.
James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “Independent convenience store retailers and their colleagues are too often the victims of shop theft and violent crime. Convenience stores across the UK invested £228m in crime prevention measures last year, but much of this would have been made by larger businesses. This funding will help small businesses to make their stores less attractive to criminals and safer for retailers and their colleagues. We strongly encourage retailers to apply for these grants to fund the right security measures for their store, and we have free guidance to help them to identify the most effective use of these funds.”
Mike Walker, Usdaw regional secretary for the South West, said: “We welcome local initiatives to tackle this growing shoplifting epidemic and the action Dan Norris is taking as the West of England Mayor by introducing the ‘Safer Shops West’ initiative is much needed.”