ACROSS Falmouth and Truro, supermarkets and shops are contending with rising levels of shoplifting. I have been out with the rangers, union reps and visited some of the shops. Much of this offending is brazen and carried out by repeat offenders, and in some cases, incidents have escalated into violence against shop workers. This is really concerning, especially for those staff members.

After years of being deprioritised by the Conservative government, high street shoplifting has worsened. While progress is now being made under this Labour government, with shop theft charges up by 21 per cent, it is apparent that more needs to be done.

Cornwall’s Business Improvement Districts and Councils have already taken some proactive steps. Initiatives such as the Safer Cornwall partnership, Street Rangers, improved CCTV coverage and monitoring, and the DISC system, which enables electronic communication between retailers and the police, are all making a difference. However, these efforts need to be further backed up.

That is why I welcome this government’s stronger approach to retail crime. Nearly 2,400 additional neighbourhood police officers are already in place across England and Wales, with numbers set to rise to 13,000 by the end of this Parliament. By restoring visible and responsive neighbourhood policing, we are deterring crime and rebuilding public safety.

But tackling retail crime requires more than just more officers on the streets. That is why the government is introducing a new offence for assaulting a retail worker as part of the Crime and Policing Bill. This Labour manifesto commitment gives shop workers the same legal protections as emergency workers.

For years, the unions in the retail sector, particularly USDAW, have campaigned for change. This new offence responds directly to evidence from the sector showing an unacceptable rise in violence and abuse against staff members. Carrying a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine, it sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

The government is also ending the effective immunity for thefts under £200, ensuring that smaller value shoplifting is properly investigated and followed up. It’s so important that all incidents are reported, including via Crimestoppers. The more people report, the more pressure for action there will be.

Alongside these measures, the government is also investing millions of pounds over the next three years to give police forces better tools to tackle retail crime and bring more offenders to justice. The government is working closely with retailers and police to identify and disrupt the gangs and black markets fuelling this rise. £5-million has been invested in a specialist policing intelligence unit called Opal to identify the worst offenders and disrupt shoplifting gangs.

More neighbourhood police, tougher consequences for offenders, and stronger protections for shop workers will make sure that our communities are better protected.