November 09, 2026 - 282 views
North Wales Police is stepping up its focus on business and retail crime as part of a national week of action aimed at making shops, businesses and town centres safer.
Safer Business Action Week begins today (Monday, November 9) and runs until Friday, November 13, bringing together police, businesses and community partners to tackle offences including shoplifting, business burglary, anti-social behaviour and abuse directed at shop workers.
The force says it will be highlighting the work being carried out to prevent crime, protect staff and support businesses across North Wales, while sharing practical advice to help business owners improve security and reduce the risk of becoming victims of crime.
The initiative also provides an opportunity for officers to engage with local businesses, understand the problems they are experiencing and encourage greater reporting of incidents.
Business crime can have consequences extending well beyond the immediate financial loss. Theft, vandalism and damage can place additional pressure on already stretched businesses, while threatening behaviour, intimidation and verbal abuse can have a lasting effect on employees.
North Wales Police has previously outlined a range of activities undertaken during the national campaign, including increased police visibility in retail hotspots, targeting individuals suspected of persistent shoplifting and working with businesses to improve security.
Its We Don't Buy Crime initiative, which focuses on preventing acquisitive crime, has also been involved in public engagement at retail parks, while the force's Cyber Crime Team has provided businesses with advice on protecting themselves against online threats and fraud.
Officers have also worked with retailers on issues such as licensing and crime prevention, alongside educational work aimed at discouraging shoplifting among young people.
The campaign comes as police forces nationally continue to address the scale of retail crime and the abuse experienced by people working in shops.
Last year's Safer Business Action Week resulted in more than 1,100 arrests nationally, with police officers and partners undertaking more than 160 days of activity involving over 4,200 officers and Police Community Support Officers.
This year's campaign also brings together several national initiatives for the first time, including ShopKind, Respect for Shopworkers Week and the Retail Trust's Let's Respect Retail campaign.
Together, they aim to challenge the normalisation of abuse towards retail workers and encourage customers to treat staff with respect.
North Wales Police is encouraging businesses to make use of available crime prevention advice, work with their local policing teams and report incidents so that officers can build a clearer picture of the problems affecting individual communities.
The message from the campaign is that business crime is not simply a problem for individual shopkeepers. It affects employment, investment, the confidence of staff and customers, and the wider economic health of towns and villages.
Police say tackling the problem requires businesses, communities and law enforcement to work together, not just during this week of action but throughout the year.
