Last week the Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) met with Emily Spurrell, Police & Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, to discuss some of the challenges facing small retailers in the region as well as across the rest of the UK.
Attending the meeting was the Fed’s national president, Hemanshu Patel, and the Fed’s political engagement coordinator, Douglas Oliver, as well as the PCC’s portfolio and partnerships officer who leads on retail crime, Natalie Carroll.
During the meeting, Spurrell spoke about the partnership work her office had done on leading retailer business forums on crime, intensified enforcement, hotspot policing involving PCSOs and a project that funded a Safer POD hazard detection tower in Liverpool city centre.
The Fed team outlined its concerns about the harassment of small shop workers and cases of theft which remain stubbornly high. It explained the Fed has engaged positively with government including meeting crime and policing minister, Sarah Jones, in recent months.
Patel also spoke about the growing problems caused by rogue traders on the high street, particularly relating to black market tobacco. He said whilst the police’s role was important, a strategic multi-agency approach was needed and the Fed was starting to have some success in its call on government to take faster action to close down shops which had acted illegally.
The Fed team also said it was backing extra resourcing for Trading Standards at a national level, though it was also calling on its 8,000 members across the country to always report such activity through Crimestoppers.
Patel also advised greater incentives needed to be provided for local authorities so fines could be reinvested by local authority teams so as to incentivise local authority trading standards.
As well as serving as Merseyside’s Labour PCC since May 2021, Spurrell currently serves as chair of the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners (APCC), providing strategic leadership across England. The Fed team promised to work closely together going forward, particularly following the formation of a new government in Westminster, which will be led by fellow North West Labour representative – Makerfield MP and former Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.
Spurrell said: “I welcomed the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Fed to hear directly about the challenges facing shop owners and retail workers across Merseyside.
“Retail crime, theft and the intimidation of shop staff has a significant impact on businesses, employees and local communities. Through our Retail Crime Forums, partnership work with retailers, targeted enforcement activity and neighbourhood policing, we are working with partners to tackle these issues and make our town and city centres safer.
“This discussion was a valuable opportunity to share ideas and explore where we can work together to support retailers, strengthen reporting and prevent crime.”
Patel added: “It was a very positive meeting. The Fed continues to ensure that the voice of independent retailers is heard in parliament, government and in the police, and this meeting was an important part of that. We look forward to working with Ms Spurrell and her team in the future.”
No comments yet