The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on Police and Crime Commissioners and the Home Office to take onboard a series of recommendations in relation to retail crime.
In light of the findings, the FSB has asked for Police and Crime Commissioners to include business crime as a priority in their Police and Crime Plans. As well as manifestos for all those standing for election in May 2024, to demonstrate commitments to business crime from the beginning to the end of their term.
It recommended that the Home Office should introduce a separate offence for violence against retail workers and clarify that there is no £200 threshold for investigating organised shoplifting offences.
The FSB said that there is currently an impression that shoplifters will not be arrested if they steal under £200 worth of goods and correcting this impression would send a clear message that lower value organised shoplifting offences will not be tolerated.
On policing, it called on the Home Office to introduce a mandatory recording process for business crime and add a ‘business crime’ section to the crime outcomes in England and Wales statistics so progress can be tracked, and targets set.
In addition, the trade body has also asked the Home Office to aim to increase the average number of police officers in England and Wales up to 335 per 100,000 population, to help dedicate appropriate resources for crime against businesses.
Tina McKenzie policy chair for the FSB said that small businesses are a huge and increasing target for criminals and the new Home Secretary and the Police must act to provide the safety and security on which day-to-day economic life depends.
“Witnessing our small high-street shops and independent businesses losing their hard-earned money because these crimes are overlooked by authorities is disheartening, not to mention the mental toll on small business owners and their staff. Small businesses are actively taking measures to protect themselves. But the extent of crime and the severity of damage to our economy are far beyond what they can control.
“The small business and self-employed community can’t be left to fend for themselves against organised crime. We need to see not only firmer and swifter action from the police and the Government, but also politicians standing for the next General Election to make business crime a priority in their manifesto and show that they place these 5.5 million voters at heart.”
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