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Can I first of all thank Paul in highlighting a problem that is not going to go away. We all know that prostitution and shop lifting has been around since time began but we now have a cancer in our midst that is having a catastrophic impact on businesses because of governments’ inaction. Lately the police have been quite clumsy in its communications to all, that they don’t have the resources and will not investigate incidences under a certain value. This has created a free for all as has been said by many. I do understand the police’s dilemma as they are also “firefighting” with often scant resources but they also have a duty to use those scant resources wisely. This may be an obvious statement to make but by not tackling persistent offenders who are often known to the police for drug abuse, alcohol problem and other social issues that go with it but ironically we will be putting even more demand on the police manpower and money in years to come.
It’s here that the government should support a targeted approach by offering ring fenced resources which can have a joint approach from all the services at the government’s disposal i.e. The police, social services, medical profession and social workers etc. etc. We need to have a preventive approach to the problem and not just sit there, brush it all under the carpet in the name of not having resources and just helplessly hope that it will go away. Like cancer it will not go away unless the government takes a broader approach to this problem. Now I can almost hear politicians mumbling about resources and making patronising statements at platforms when offered to speak. Perhaps for once the government should put money where their mouth is and make a difference to communities that are blighted by this menace. Sadly for us tomorrow is just another day in the life of a retailer coping with useless legislation coming out of Westminster which has little or no value and of course I forget “shoplifting”.

Arjan Mehr Londis Bracknell