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Drugs and drink fuel violence against retailers
SHOCKING stats
show one-in-five UK retailers (20%) have been the victim of violent
crime over the past 12 months, according to the 2008 Retail Violence
Survey carried out by trade magazine Independent Retail News.
The extent of violence varies from region to region. The figure is
worst in the south-east where 29% of retailers suffered violence of
one form or another, followed by Scotland (20%), the south-west
(18%), Northern Ireland (16%), north-east (13%), Wales (11%) and
north-west (7%).
Of those retailers who suffered violence, one-in-five retailers
(22%) experienced robbery over the past year, compared to 14% in
2007, according to the survey and 13% experienced physical assault,
again a rise on the 10.4% who experienced assault in 2007.
Over a quarter of retailers (27%) experienced verbal abuse during
the 12 month period and 11% were threatened with a weapon.
On-in-five (18%) experienced intimidation or threats from customers
over the period.
The frequency of attacks was also important with one third (33%) of
retailers suffering violence more than five times over the year.
Alcohol continues to be a real problem for retailers who have to
contend with under-age customers attempting to buy it.
Retailers were asked what proportion of violent incidents would they
consider to be alcohol related, either related to the sale of
alcohol products or violence carried out by people under the
influence of alcohol.
Age restricted products proved a problem in many cases for stores.
Two-in-five retailers (42%) said the violence was “often”
attributable to alcohol, 23% said it was “sometimes”
the cause, 20% said it was “rarely” the cause and only
13% said it was never the cause of violence.
For tobacco, a quarter (25%) said it was “often” the
cause and 23% “sometimes” with 27% saying it was
“rarely" and 25% never the cause.
Retailers were also asked about violent customers and drugs. Half
(50%) of retailers said drugs was “often” the cause of
violence and 17% “sometimes” the cause.
Retailers do not work alone and their staff came in for some rough
dealing at the hands of attackers. To try and assess the seriousness
of the attacks, retailers were asked how serious the violence was.
One-in-10 (10%) required time off work as a result of violence, 3%
needed hospital treatment and the same percentage required a visit
to the doctor. Overall, a clear majority of 75% said they were
“shaken but not hurt” as a result of the violence.
Independent Retail News editor John Kirwan said:- “The results
of this survey show the problems retailers face on a daily basis
with drink and drugs playing a key part.
More than a quarter of those retailers attacked over the past year
have considered selling their business.”
A matter of real concern is whether the violence is getting worse or
getting better. Three-in-five (63%) of retailers said
“violence and anti-social” behaviour is worse that it was 12
months ago. When retailers were asked the same question in 2007,
60.4% said it was worse than in 2006. This impacts on wellbeing with
half (53%) saying they suffer stress as a result of violence.
Retailers are going to the police in growing numbers. Four-in-five
(80%) said they “always” went to the police, 8% said
they “sometimes” called on the police and 3% said
“they used to but no longer” called the police. Eight per
cent said they never contacted the police.
Retailers described what happened when they called on the police. A
quarter (23%) said they had a visit and there was follow-up action,
which is much better than the case in 2007 when the figure was just
8.1%. One-in-five (18%) said they had a visit but no follow up
action, an improvement on the 12.6% in 2007. In 7% of cases charges
were brought which ended in conviction and in 5% of cases charges
were brought that did not end in convictions. For 10% of retailers,
cases were ongoing.
Possibly as a result of the greater police contact, retailers appear
happier than they were a year ago. A quarter (23%) said they rated
police forces’ efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour and violent
crime as “much better” over the past 12 months.
In 2007 when retailers were asked the same question, 7% though
police efforts were much better. This time round, 27% thought police
forces’ efforts were “better”, 39% thought they were
the “same” and 11% “worse”.
To combat violence and crime, retailers are using their local crime
and disorder reduction partnerships with almost half (45%) getting
in touch with them over the past 12 months.
TESCO JOBS BOOST FOR LIVERPOOL
THE new Tesco
Express store opening in Liverpool has provided a boost to the local
economy by creating 13 new jobs.
Work is now nearly finished on the new Tesco Express store, which
opens on Crosby Road North on Thursday 29 May 2008.
Tesco worked with their local Job Centre Plus in the recruitment
process, which had great results and attracted many applications.
The new staff are now in the final stages of the Tesco training
programme and Store manager Andy Wood is looking forward to working
with his new team. Andy said:- “I am delighted by the response
to our recruitment drive, we have recruited a great team of people
and I cannot wait to start working with them.”
Andy continued:- “We are delighted to be opening a Tesco
Express on Crosby Road North and look forward to playing an active
role in the local community.”
The new Tesco Express will open from 6.30am until 11pm seven days a
week.
The store will officially launch next week and make a £500 donation
to Jospice who are coming along to open the new store. Further
details of the official launch ceremony are currently being
finalised and will be released shortly. |
Sir
Robin Knox-Johnston thanks Liverpool for their tremendous support
THE Clipper
fleet have embark on the final leg of the Clipper 07-08 Round the
World Yacht Race, taking them to New York, Nova Scotia, and Cork in
Ireland before finishing in Liverpool on 5 July 2008 during the
height of the city’s celebrations as European Capital of Culture
2008. With the announcement yesterday that Liverpool will be handing
over to the Humber as home port venue for the biennial event,
Clipper Ventures Chairman and legendary solo yachtsman Sir Robin
Knox-Johnston praised the city for successfully hosting the last
three editions of the race.
After hosting the last three Clipper Round the World Yacht Races,
the world-renowned port of Liverpool will now hand over the baton to
another UK region. Yesterday, during an event at Trinity House,
London, Clipper Ventures announced that the next edition of the
race, Clipper 09-10, will start and finish in the Humber.
Sir Robin said:- “I would like to commend Liverpool on its
success in hosting the last three Clipper Races providing the fleet
with spectacular send-offs and emotional homecoming celebrations.
The people of
Liverpool have welcomed our international crews and visiting
dignitaries from the other sponsoring cities with the genuine
hospitality the city is famed for.
The Humberside region has seen the successful way in which Liverpool
has hosted the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race gaining
significant benefits over the last six years, and on the basis of
this has signed up to host Clipper 09-10.” Sir Robin added.
Councilllor Warren
Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Deputy Chairman of
Liverpool Culture Company, said:- "Liverpool has thoroughly
enjoyed being host port for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Races.
Our
relationship with Clipper Ventures has been hugely beneficial and
memorable; not least in coinciding with arguably the most successful
decade in living memory for the city.
The event itself also provided us with a great opportunity to
reconnect with the River Mersey and we have achieved that through
the hugely successful education programme in our schools and the
quality maritime events programme which we have strengthened.
We wish Hull &
Humber all the best in its role as the new host port and hope it
gets as much out of the experience as Liverpool did."
The Clipper Race took up residence in Liverpool in 2002 to tie in
with the city’s bid and subsequent celebrations of its status as
European Capital of Culture. During this time the Clipper Race has
generated significant economic benefits for the north west, in
addition to extensive international media exposure as the Liverpool
08 yacht provides a floating billboard promoting Liverpool as
European Capital of Culture 2008 around the world. The media
coverage generated by the Liverpool 08 entry in Clipper 05-06 was
valued at £5.8 million by independent sports marketing agency,
Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS), the highest return of all the ten
international sponsors. The Clipper Race attracts thousands of
international visitors to the city and SMS calculated that hosting
the start and finish of Clipper 05-06 generated an economic benefit
of £1.9 million for the north west region.
“Liverpool has fielded an entry in the last three races, and
Liverpool 08 has promoted the city as the European Capital of
Culture around the globe.
We hope to see
another Liverpool entry in future races, as the team has always
proved popular and the crew representing Liverpool have been
excellent ambassadors for the city and its maritime heritage.”
Sir Robin added.
The ten-strong fleet is scheduled to return to Liverpool on 5 July
2008 at the end of the 35,000-mile circumnavigation. The day’s
celebrations will commence with fleet participating in the
‘Liverpool 08 Dash’ up the Mersey. The first of the Clipper
yachts are expected to be off Albert Dock mid-morning.
“The ten teams can be certain that they will receive a spectacular
welcome when they return to the River Mersey in just over a month’s
time.
Few things can
compare to the sight of the ten yachts sailing back in front of the
Three Graces after 35,000 miles of tough racing.
You will see
the crews standing tall and proud having completed something that so
few people even dream they can achieve” Sir Robin added.
The Humber will be the fourth UK venue to host the start of the
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The first Clipper Race started
in Plymouth in 1996 and 1998 before moving to Portsmouth for the
start of the 2000 race, before moving to Liverpool. |
