Following the work I am involved with locally to tackle shoplifting in our community, I am pleased the Home Office this week launched the Retail Crime Action Plan which will enable better intelligence sharing between retailers and the police.
The Plan includes a commitment from the police to prioritise attending instances of shoplifting involving violence against shop workers or when security guards have detained an offender. Police attendance will be based on risk assessment, with a focus on prolific and juvenile offenders.
I'm determined to continue driving change to ensure a zero-tolerance approach to shoplifting, and will keep you all updated with developments. My thanks go to all the shop owners and shop workers in Sevenoaks and Swanley who are dealing with this every day. I will do all I can to help.
