BIRA has cautiously welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement last week on a new neighbourhood policing guarantee.
Andrew Goodacre, ceo of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), said: “We cautiously welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition that shoplifting and antisocial behaviour have ‘wreaked havoc on our neighbourhoods’ and his plan to address this through visible policing. The announcement of named local officers and guaranteed patrols are positive measures that address our members’ concerns.
“However, the timeline for recruiting 13,000 more officers by 2029 remains far too slow when independent retailers are suffering from an epidemic of retail crime right now.
“Our recent research indicates a deeply concerning trend in retail crime, with the majority of independent retailers experiencing theft in the past 12 months. Even more worrying is that most report the situation has deteriorated compared to last year, with theft incidents increasingly occurring during opening hours, showing growing boldness from offenders.
“The Prime Minister’s commitment to ending the ‘postcode lottery’ of policing resonates with our members, who report vastly different experiences across regions. Some areas receive excellent police support while others see virtually none. However, this disparity needs addressing now, not by 2029.
“While Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s statement that ‘too many communities have been feeling abandoned as crime soared and neighbourhood police disappeared’ accurately reflects our members’ experiences, we remain concerned about funding. Without proper resources, these promises of increased neighbourhood policing risk becoming empty words.”
Andrew added: “The government’s focus on putting ‘prevention back at the heart of policing’ is the right approach, but independent retailers cannot wait four years for protection. They need ‘bobbies on the beat’ in their communities now. The Retail Crime Plan was launched in September 2023, and after 18 months it is hard to see much difference at shop level.”
