Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of businesses that have been refused insurance because of incidents of retail crime.

The Government has not made an assessment. Insurers make decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. Individual insurers may take a different view of the relevant factors in determining whether to offer insurance and at what price.

However, the Government recognises that shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers to do this.

The Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect hardworking and dedicated staff, and end the effective immunity that has been granted to shop theft of goods under £200. As set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government also will provide over £7 million over the next three financial years to help police tackle retail crime and support local businesses.