Group items tagged

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that the Labour government is taking firm action against growing retail crime by scrapping the "shoplifters' charter." During a Commons session on Wednesday (5), Claire Hughes, Labour MP for Bangor Aberconwy, raised concerns about businesses in the seaside town of Llandudno struggling with the rise in shoplifting. She highlighted that in many cases thieves are stealing "in full view of staff because they just don't fear the consequences." While welcoming the recent funding boost for neighbourhood policing, she asked the prime minister - "What more the government is doing to tackle retail crime and deter repeat offenders?" In response, Starmer criticised the previous Conservative government for downplaying retail crime, potentially leading to increased incidents of repeat offenses. Starmer said: "For far too long, crimes like shoplifting have been written off as low level." "That's wrong, it's devastating. The opposite party (Conservatives) left us with rising crime and effectively told police to ignore shoplifting under £200 worth of goods. "We've got rid of that shoplifters' charter and we're working hard to make sure we get a grip where they lost control."