Responding to the King’s Speech, earlier today, Helen
Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium,
said:
On Business Rates:
“We welcome the Government’s pledge, within the King’s Speech, to
“continue to take action to bring down inflation, to ease the
cost of living for families, and help businesses fund new jobs
and investment”.
“The Autumn Statement offers a vital opportunity to deliver on
all three of these objectives – by freezing the business rates
burden, that will otherwise rise by £470m-a-year for retailers in
2024. Without action, this additional burden would likely slow or
prevent retailers from cutting prices and easing retail
inflation. Business rates remain one of the biggest factors
considered when opening new stores, increasing job numbers and
investing in our town and city centres. Raising business rates
will undoubtedly block vital investment now and in the future,
which is why the Chancellor must announce a freeze at the Autumn
Statement, and commit to a review of the system in the longer
term.
On Crime:
“At a time when retail crime is soaring, with daily news
headlines on the violence and abuse of our nation’s shopkeepers
and organised shoplifting from our stores, we need action. The
industry has been loud and clear on the urgent need for a
standalone offence for assaulting or abusing a retail worker,
sending a clear signal that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
It would also require police forces to record all incidents of
retail crime, allowing for better allocation of resources to the
issue.
“Sadly, while today’s speech promised future legislation on a
number of crime-related issues, retail crime has been left to
fester. It’s time for Government to get tough on retail crime and
support the millions of retail workers across the country who
serve us each and every day. No one should have to go to work
fearing assault or abuse.”
