The “Stop Crime Against Retailers” campaign is an initiative launched to address the growing issue of retail crime in Ireland, which has seen a sharp increase in shoplifting, robberies, and other criminal activities targeting retail spaces. Spearheaded by **ShelfLife Magazine** in partnership with the Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA), the campaign highlights the urgent need for enhanced legislative protections and faster responses from law enforcement to mitigate these threats. Retailers report that the situation is not only causing financial losses but also escalating into physical and emotional distress for staff and customers.
Research conducted as part of the campaign reveals alarming figures: every surveyed retailer experienced criminal activity in the past year, and 89% felt that the nature of these crimes is becoming more severe. The campaign advocates for several key actions, including improved Garda response times, legal reforms to support retailers, and the establishment of “night courts” to expedite cases related to retail crime.
“The effect on staff is the thing that upsets us the most. The level of abuse they take is unacceptable. They always step back and get out of the way. The risk of being sued is too high otherwise. Our policy is to record everything and let the offenders go, unless it’s a major incident when we’ll call the gardaí.
A recent conference brought together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss these issues and push for practical strategies to protect retail workers and businesses more effectively. The campaign aims to amplify retailer voices and drive urgent policy changes to ensure a safer retail environment across Ireland.