Representatives from High Streets UK have set out a four-point policy proposal for the government on retail crime, warning that a failure to act will only worsen the issues facing the sector.
The lobby group, which represents over 5,000 businesses across the UK, today set out a series of policy recommendations for the government following its Safer High Streets Forum ahead of next week’s spring statement.
The group recommends that the government ringfence policing for flagship retail destinations, reform the criminal justice system, launch a coordinated crackdown on international organised crime, and create a national framework for business crime reporting.
Its recommendations follow a British Retail Consortium report published last week that highlighted that retail crime losses soared to £2bn last year.
Chair of High Streets UK Dee Corsi, who is also chief executive of the New West End Company, said: “Flagship high streets are engines of the local and national economy, drivers of tourism, and anchors for communities. But without urgent national action on crime, they are at serious risk.
“We have welcomed the government’s renewed focus on retail crime in particular. But we must go further and faster to tackle all types of crime affecting high streets, having a devastating effect on businesses and communities, tarnishing the UK’s global reputation and jeopardising tourism and investment.
“At our Safer High Streets Forum, we shared our frontline experience of the international criminal gangs, business crime, prolific offenders and antisocial behaviour affecting our high streets – none of which can be meaningfully tackled with the current systems and resources in place.
“Together, we have set out a clear, practical blueprint for change. It’s now time to focus on delivery.”
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