The Live Wire



Press Release

RETAILERS REJECT ‘NUISANCE’ TAG ON SHOPLIFTING

15 November 2005

BRC Director General, Dr Kevin Hawkins, says: “The BRC is extremely dismayed by comments made by Lord Justice Rose in the Court of Appeal that shop theft is merely a ‘nuisance’ offence.

“Retail crime has significant demoralising effects on shop owners and their staff, especially as theft is increasingly accompanied by violence, threats and verbal abuse.

“Giving leniency to even the most persistent offenders suggests that crimes against retailers are tolerable. Shop theft is frequently a ‘gateway’ to more serious offences. The more it is trivialised, the wider the gateway will become. Offenders, often the younger members of our society, need to be taught that such crimes are unacceptable and likely to carry severe penalties. Lord Rose’s comments are, therefore, particularly inappropriate.

“The BRC has recently launched SCAR (Stop Crime Against Retail) campaign. We will be calling for Police to modify the system of crime reporting to encourage victims to report crimes and ensuring the Government works with the sector to raise awareness of the real impact of crime and violence against retail.”



Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to Central Lobby. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the Central Lobby service.

As such, Central Lobby does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.

British Retail Consortium

More from Dods

© Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd