Home Secretary Priti Patel said police must do more to protect shop owners and their stock from criminals who target them on cash and carry premises.
During a recent visit to Costco, in Chingford, Patel remarked that the police response to crime at wholesale premises is “not good enough.”
“I grew up in the retail world and I’ve seen the effect of having your stock stolen. Theft of high-value products like tobacco can decimate a business. They can destroy cash flow, and the goodwill of the business as well,” she said.
“The police have to do more. They have to come down to wholesale outlets and work with wholesalers to make sure gangs are absolutely not preying on their customers.
“It’s important not only that we highlight the whole issue of wholesale crime, but actually that we work with police to ensure they work with wholesalers and retailers to stop this level of crime taking place.”
Patel said she will be telling borough commanders: “It’s not good enough and we need police action. If they don’t so something about it, they will answer to me.”
Responding, the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) welcomed the comments from the home secretary, and expressed hope that Patel “puts her words into practice.”
“This is just another strand of crime, along with shoplifting and the increasing number of verbal and physical attacks, that independent retailers have to contend with on a daily basis,” Stuart Reddish, NFRN national president, said.
“We have been lobbying the government for years to take retail crime more seriously and clamp down on offenders by introducing stricter laws and tougher sentencing.”
FWD tweeted: “Criminals who target retailers have no fear of being caught and prosecuted. Police response to thefts and robberies from customers in cash and carry car parks is appalling, officers refuse to even attend incidents, let alone investigate. @pritipatel is right to highlight this.”
