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Electric vehicles: Government urged to provide more support to local stores

Electric Vehicle Charging Points

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the government to provide more support to the convenience sector to help the expansion of the electric vehicle charging network.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced new regulations for new homes and buildings in England in relation to electric vehicle charging points.


Charging points for electric vehicles will be required to be installed in new homes and non-residential buildings such as offices and supermarkets from next year under new legislation.

The requirement will also apply to buildings undergoing large-scale renovations which leave them with more than 10 parking spaces.

Downing Street said the regulations would lead to up to 145,000 extra charge points being installed in England each year in the run-up to 2030, when the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end in Britain.

Commenting, James Lowman, ACS chief executive said: “Local shops understand that they have an important role to play in the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging, particularly those operating on petrol forecourts.

“We welcome the announcement from the Prime Minister today but it is essential that the government provides more support to forecourt retailers and other EV charging providers to help them invest in the long-term future of the charging network in order for it to be workable for businesses and consumers.”

Findings from ACS’ 2021 Forecourt Report show that there are currently around 536 charging points at 405 forecourt locations (excluding service stations) in the UK, part of a wider network of over 16,000 charging locations.

In its submission to Future of transport regulatory review: zero emission vehicles, ACS has outlined further actions from government to co-ordinate the role of out EV infrastructure like obligations on local authorities to plan EV infrastructure and delivering standardisation and accessibility of charging points.

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National President Mo Razzaq 2024 serious 1 1
Fed National President Mo Razzaq

Indies: It’s criminal police and government turn blind eye to shoplifting

Independent retailers are demanding tougher police action, more bobbies on the beat and harsher punishments as shoplifting levels reach an all-time high, a new survey reveals.

A whopping ninety-one per cent of respondents to a survey conducted by the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) called for more police patrols on streets, while a similar number - 90 per cent - said that shoplifters should be handed harsher sentences.

Seven out of 10 respondents (72 per cent) said their stores had experienced shoplifting, break ins and damage to property, while they and their staff had been physically or verbally threatened.

Just under half of respondents (47 per cent) said they and their employees had been threatened or had suffered abuse and violence when asking for proof of age ahead of selling an age-restricted product.

Forty-four per cent reported that they and their staff had faced abuse or violence because they had refused to make a proxy sale – selling an age restricted product to a customer buying for a minor.

The results of the Fed’s survey came as new figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed that shoplifting was at a record high, with almost half a million offences recorded last year.

According to the ONS, 469,788 offences were logged by forces in the year to June 2024 – a 29 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

The ONS added that this figure was the highest since records began – in March 2003.

“Inadequate responses from the police and a slap on the wrist for offenders means that shoplifting is soaring, and offenders are becoming more aggressive and brazen,” said Fed National President Mo Razzaq.

“From the responses we received, it is clear that real action is needed by police, by courts and by the government to stem the overwhelming tide of crime against retailers and their staff. Everyone deserves to feel safe at work and for their businesses to be protected against criminals.

“Fed members are also sending a clear message that one of the catalysts for verbal and physical abuse in stores is asking for proof of age before selling an age restricted product. If the government presses ahead with its plans to phase out smoking and vaping through a progressive ban to gradually end the sale of tobacco products across the country, independent retailers will be subject to even greater levels of violence, abuse and theft.”

Calling for action from the government and not just words, Mr Razzaq continued: “Without effective deterrent, criminals and opportunistic members of the public will continue to commit crimes.”

According to Ministry of Justice statistics, during the year to March 2024, 431 fines were handed out for retail theft under £100, while Home Office statistics for the same period show that 2,252 cautions were accepted for shoplifting.

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