Call for urgent reform as crime threatens UK high streets, warns national business group
Call for urgent reform as crime threatens UK high streets, warns national business group
Without urgent reform, the UK’s current crime prevention systems are unfit to support the Government’s ambitions to revitalise the nation’s high streets, according to High Streets UK, a national coalition of major city-centre business groups.
The warning follows the second meeting of the Safer High Streets Forum this week, where representatives from leading Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across the UK—including Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Edinburgh, Bristol and London—came together to shape a coordinated response to the growing levels of crime affecting retail areas.
Formed earlier this year, High Streets UK aims to unlock new opportunities for high street growth by tackling pressing issues such as anti-social behaviour, business crime, and organised theft. The group said that while recent Government commitments—such as the creation of a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers and a renewed focus on shoplifting—are welcome, underlying infrastructure, funding, and enforcement gaps remain critical barriers to real progress.
Businessin Wales has approached the Home Office for a response.
The coalition has released a four-point policy plan, urging ministers to adopt targeted reforms:
- Ring-fenced police resources dedicated to flagship high streets;
- Criminal justice system reform, including stronger Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs);
- A nationwide multi-agency strategy to tackle organised retail crime;
- A standardised framework for businesses to report crimes consistently across the UK.
The call for action is backed by FOR Cardiff, the Business Improvement District for the Welsh capital. Since 2016, FOR Cardiff has invested over £1.5 million annually in projects and initiatives to enhance the city centre and support over 800 businesses.
“FOR Cardiff delivers the Cardiff Against Business Crime (CABC) partnership and works closely with local stakeholders including South Wales Police to address crime in the city centre,” said Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff.
“These are national issues faced by cities up and down the country and, if adopted, the policy recommendations set out by High Streets UK would provide real support to address the roots of these problems. These policies would support high streets and help to keep retail workers safe, in Cardiff and across the UK.”
Retail crime has surged to £2 billion in annual losses from shoplifting, with retail staff reporting increasing incidents of violence and abuse. High Streets UK argues that a holistic, national strategy is needed to stop the trend from undermining the economic and social recovery of high streets.
With retail forming a cornerstone of urban economies and community life, High Streets UK is calling on the Government to back its proposals and ensure frontline businesses and workers are protected as part of wider efforts to build a productive and sustainable economy.
