Members of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) are calling for the new Welsh government due in May to introduce a £6,500 grant to enable independent retailers to install modern CCTV to combat retail crime.
It follows a similar plea the Fed made to the Scottish government last week.
The latest measure is one of three manifesto proposals the organisation has submitted to party leaders in the run-up to the election in May of this year.
The proposals also include the urgent need for the creation of and funding for a Retail Crime Taskforce similar to the one in Scotland, and a crackdown on rogue trading by providing ring-fenced funding for trading standards officers.
It is hoped that better-resourced teams will be able to curb sales of illicit tobacco and vapes to children and adults. Such action would also support legitimate businesses undermined by the black market as well as delivering a blow to the organised crime gangs which the Fed believes are often behind illegal trade.
With costs soaring, the Fed is also calling for any new government to provide retail, hospitality and leisure relief for small businesses - similar to England.
The Fed’s Welsh president, Clive Birkby, said: “We’re calling on all parties standing to put small independent Welsh shops at the heart of their agenda.
“In particular, we are calling for action to tackle retail crime as well as on the cost of business through limits to Business Rates bills and a smooth and fair rollout of the deposit return scheme.”
You can now secure your tickets to the Convenience Awards 2026!
Join us on 11 March in Liverpool to celebrate the entire convenience community.
See this year’s finalists and book your seat here.
No comments yet