West Midlands police and crime commisioner Simon Foster met with indie retailers to discuss ongoing efforts to tackle retail crime locally and further afield.
Foster addressed members of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) at a meeting in Walsall on 14 January, describing retail crime as a “continual challenge” for police and businesses alike.
He said tackling shop theft was a priority within the West Midlands’ Police and Crime Plan for 2025-2029, alongside plans to strengthen community policing through “partnership work”.
Foster highlighted the recruitment of 150 neighbourhood police officers and 20 PCSOs in recent years, but criticised the national police funding formula, aruging it leaves more urban areas such as the West Midlands less resourced than more sparsely populated counties.
He welcomed recent talks between the Fed’s national president Hetal Patel and crime & policing minister Sarah Jones, and stressed the importance of rehabilitation schemes to reduce reoffending.
Mr Foster answered members’ questions on how resources will be brought to the frontline, crime reporting, adequate judicial deterrents and possible security training and advice for indie shops.
After the meeting, the Fed’s West Midlands district president Amy Sohal, said: “I was really pleased that the West Midlands PCC came to join us, giving this useful update. Mr Foster promised to work closely with us on an ongoing basis and we invited him to update us further in a meeting this time next year.”
Mr Foster said: “It was exceedingly useful for me to meet with the Fed as retail crime is an area of great importance for me as identified in the West Midlands Police and Crime Plan – and because of all the social and economic disruption this crime causes. I look forward to meeting with Fed members again.”
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