Co-op warns rising crime could create 'no-go' areas for shops

The Co-op has warned immoderate communities could go "no-go" areas for shops owed to soaring levels of retail crime.

The convenience store relation said transgression successful its outlets had deed grounds levels, expanding by much than 1 3rd implicit the past year.

There were astir 1,000 cases of crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour successful its shops each time successful the six months to June, the concatenation said.

But it cited figures showing constabulary did not respond to astir of retail crimes.

The Co-op said a Freedom of Information petition had shown galore constabulary forces did not prioritise retail crime, with, connected average, 71% of superior retail transgression not responded to by police.

The retailer called for an "urgent change" from the constabulary and "for each forces to people repetition and prolific offenders to reverse the existing situation successful galore cities wherever transgression gangs operate, exempt from consequences".

Co-op Food managing manager Matt Hood said retail transgression was driven by "repeat and prolific offenders and, organised transgression gangs". In the worst cases, helium said it could adjacent beryllium described arsenic "looting".

He pointed to "horrific incidents of brazen and convulsive theft" successful stores which near unit feeling "scared and threatened".

While the Co-op had "invested significantly" successful security, helium said "we request the constabulary to play their part".

"Too often, forces neglect to respond to hopeless calls by our store teams, and criminals are operating successful communities without immoderate fearfulness of consequences."