Retail Crime

Part of Home Department – in the House of Commons at on 29 July 2024.

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Photo of Seema Malhotra Seema Malhotra The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department

I commend my hon. Friend for raising this issue. It is true that the steps we are taking owe much to the work of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, the Co-op, the British Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores. Everyone has a right to feel safe at work, but the March statistics show a 30% increase in shoplifting offences, many of which are violent, over 12 months. We welcome the operational commitments made by the police in the retail crime action plan. I know that the Minister of State, Home Department, my right hon. Friend Dame Diana Johnson has heard my hon. Friend’s request and that she will be happy to visit Ipswich with him.