RP - manifesto A4 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 13
SAFER HIGH STREETS
- TACKLING THE
SHOPLIFTING EPIDEMIC
Over recent months I have visited local supermarkets and shops and heard
repeatedly about the epidemic of aggressive and violent shoplifting.
Retail sta昀昀 are facing incidents every day, often with
verbal abuse and sometimes with physical violence
and threats. I have heard directly where shop
workers have been threatened with sexual violence.
I have urged the Government to change the guidance
on the £200 threshold for responding to shoplifting
incidents - reversing the Conservative Government’s
downgrading of shoplifting.
Despite businesses spending signi昀椀cant sums of
money on security and surveillance equipment,
retail workers have told me they do not feel safe.
And this includes when they are in their local
community travelling to and from work. This
situation is completely unacceptable and must be
addressed urgently. It is a direct result of the cuts
to neighbourhood policing in recent years: more
visible policing in communities will deter crime like
shoplifting and theft.
I have long supported the introduction of a speci昀椀c
new o昀昀ence of assault and violence towards
shopworkers. I have lobbied the Government on this.
I am actively supporting the Co-operative movement
and the shopworkers trade union, USDAW, in
campaigning for this new o昀昀ence to strengthen
the criminal justice response to the shoplifting
epidemic on our high streets. It is disappointing
that Conservative MPs have voted against the
introduction of this new o昀昀ence in Parliament.
I will work with businesses and other partners to
bring forward new multiagency action plans for
every town centre, neighbourhood retail centre,
high street, village centre and shopping area in
Leicestershire and Rutland. Too many shopworkers
have told me they have been left disappointed with
the lack of immediate police response - a direct
impact of the pressure on limited police resources. I
will ask the Chief Constable to strengthen the police
response to shoplifting and retail theft incidents.
RORY PALMER
SAFER STREETS & STRONGER COMMUNITIES