Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking with relevant authorities to help reduce instances of car theft in (a) Romford constituency and (b) England.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the significant impact theft has on businesses, communities, and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.
We have recently taken significant steps to improve the police response to acquisitive crime, including car theft and shoplifting. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has made a commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have commenced a thematic inspection on the effectiveness of police investigations which will include an assessment of how police forces are implementing the reasonable lines of enquiry commitment.
The Government is working closely with police and motor manufacturers through the National Vehicle Crime Working Group, chaired by ACC Jennifer Sims, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, to take forward a programme of work to prevent and reduce vehicle crime nationally. A network of vehicle crime leads has been established in every police force in England and Wales, ensuring forces share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and are better able to tackle regional issues. The Metropolitan Police Service are represented on the Working Group and have an established vehicle crime lead.
We are legislating through the Criminal Justice Bill to create two new offences where a person possesses, makes, adapts, supplies or offers to supply electronic devices where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will be used in vehicle theft. The legislation will make it easier for police to prosecute criminals making and supplying these devices, as well as vehicle thieves.
In October 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the Retail Crime Action Plan - October 2023.pdf (nbcc.police.uk). Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.
We are continuing to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), which meets on a quarterly basis, to ensure the response to retail crime, including shoplifting, is as robust as it can be.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken with relevant authorities to reduce shop lifting in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the significant impact theft has on businesses, communities, and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.
We have recently taken significant steps to improve the police response to acquisitive crime, including car theft and shoplifting. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has made a commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have commenced a thematic inspection on the effectiveness of police investigations which will include an assessment of how police forces are implementing the reasonable lines of enquiry commitment.
The Government is working closely with police and motor manufacturers through the National Vehicle Crime Working Group, chaired by ACC Jennifer Sims, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, to take forward a programme of work to prevent and reduce vehicle crime nationally. A network of vehicle crime leads has been established in every police force in England and Wales, ensuring forces share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and are better able to tackle regional issues. The Metropolitan Police Service are represented on the Working Group and have an established vehicle crime lead.
We are legislating through the Criminal Justice Bill to create two new offences where a person possesses, makes, adapts, supplies or offers to supply electronic devices where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will be used in vehicle theft. The legislation will make it easier for police to prosecute criminals making and supplying these devices, as well as vehicle thieves.
In October 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the Retail Crime Action Plan - October 2023.pdf (nbcc.police.uk). Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.
We are continuing to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), which meets on a quarterly basis, to ensure the response to retail crime, including shoplifting, is as robust as it can be.
Mentions:
1: Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon) I beg to move,That this House has considered the matter of violence and abuse towards the retail workforce.It - Speech Link
2: Navendu Mishra (Lab - Stockport) I declare to the House that I am a member of USDAW, the retail sector trade union. - Speech Link
3: Feryal Clark (Lab - Enfield North) Figures from the British Retail Consortium, the retail trade body, show that retail crime in England - Speech Link
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to work with relevant authorities to tackle shoplifting in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the significant impact shoplifting has on businesses, communities and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.
However, Police Recorded Crime figures show shoplifting offences increased by 25% in the 12 months to June 2023. Statistics also show the number of people charged with shoplifting offences has risen by 29% in the year ending June 2023.
We have recently made significant steps to improve the police response to retail crime, including shoplifting.
In October, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the Retail Crime Action Plan. Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.
This builds on the NPCC commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender, including shoplifting.
October also saw the launch of Pegasus, a unique private-public partnership, which involves retailers providing data, intelligence and evidence to Opal, the national police intelligence unit on organised acquisitive crime, to develop a better strategic picture and help forces crack down on serious offenders.
The Government is clear that violent and abusive behaviour towards any worker, particularly those who provide a valuable service to the public, is never acceptable.
In 2022 we took the significant step to introduce a statutory aggravating factor for assault against those who are serving the public. Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 means the public facing nature of a victim’s role will be considered an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing for assault offences, allowing the court to give a longer sentence within the statutory maximum for the offence.
The Government also continues to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) to ensure the response to retail crime is as robust as it can be.
Jan. 08 2024
Source Page: Retail Industry Leadership Group meeting minutes: December 2023Found: Retail Industry Leadership Group meeting minutes: December 2023
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to reduce instances of verbal abuse towards shop workers.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is clear that violence and abuse towards any worker is not acceptable. We introduced a statutory aggravating factor for assault against any public facing worker via section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The aggravating factor applies in cases of assault where an offence is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This legislative change ensures the courts treat the public-facing nature of a victim’s role as an aggravating factor when considering the sentence for an offence.
As Minister for Crime and Policing, I chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), this group is co-chaired by the British Retail Consortium. It brings together Government, the retail industry and law enforcement to develop our response to retail crime.
Crime surveys undertaken by the retail trade associations, such as the Association of Convenience Stores, the British Retail Consortium and USDAW are valuable sources of information and help to shape the discussion at the NRCSG.
The next meeting of the NRCSG will take place on 17 July and members will discuss the impact of the statutory aggravating factor for assault offences committed against retail workers and other public facing workers.
The Home Office has facilitated a number of task and finish groups, comprising members of the NRCSG. Recently these have aimed to encourage retailers to engage with their local Business Crime Reduction Partnership to work with police and support local efforts to reduce crimes like shoplifting, and how powers in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 can be used to tackle prolific offending in retail settings, building on guidance already provided by the National Business Crime Centre. These crimes are most effectively tackled when retailers and local policing teams work together.
Mentions:
1: Alex Norris (LAB - Nottingham North) In this country we now tolerate 90% of crimes going unsolved; last year there were 2 million crimes unsolved - Speech Link
2: Alex Norris (LAB - Nottingham North) community.Levels of retail crime, alongside violence and abuse towards shopworkers, have increased substantially - Speech Link
3: Laura Farris (Con - Newbury) Violent crimes as a whole, which include crimes that involve any form of offensive weapon, are down by - Speech Link
4: Rachel Hopkins (Lab - Luton South) too many shop workers face abuse and violence in our town centres.The trade union USDAW’s latest survey - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Yousaf, Humza (SNP - Glasgow Pollok) Retail is an essential component of vibrant city-centre and town-centre economies. - Speech Link
2: Fraser, Murdo (Con - Mid Scotland and Fife) The decline of our traditional retail centres is well documented. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Tom Tugendhat (Con - Tonbridge and Malling) While zombie-style knives and machetes are fortunately used in a relatively low number of crimes, the - Speech Link
2: Alex Norris (LAB - Nottingham North) situation where it is thought that more than 200,000 children are vulnerable to serious violence. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: James Cleverly (Con - Braintree) , the Business and Trade Secretary and many others in the Government—of being open and welcoming. - Speech Link
2: Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) such appalling crimes? - Speech Link
3: James Cleverly (Con - Braintree) put in place a specific criminal offence of assault against a retail worker. - Speech Link
4: Feryal Clark (Lab - Enfield North) against retail workers, continuing a pattern of years of failing to address this issue while such violence - Speech Link
5: Tom Pursglove (Con - Corby) for that miserable trade. - Speech Link