The Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) continue to drive its campaign against retail criminal offence within the garden center sphere , engaging with both the Police and Crime Commissioner ( PCC ) for West Sussex , Katy Bourne , and the Thames Valley PCC Matthew Barber , this month . Retail crime has both a financial and social impact on garden centers , which collectively suffer 1000000 in loss each year . In 2022 , it was estimated that stealing accounted for a £ 16 million departure in turnover for HTA phallus garden centers .
The HTA has also institutionalize a paper to all PCCs in England and Wales , abide by by meeting with several in soul and online to share penis experiences . As a result , garden center locations have been added to police officer patrols , and fellow member have been ask for to local business and crime forum . Guidance has been provided for reporting crime and using apps such as Disc to reconcile evidence and pass on with police and other businesses .
On 10 October , as part of the HTA regional penis issue , Tates of Sussex play host to a ' Tackling Retail Crime ' effect , attended by HTA members , West Sussex PCC Katy Bourne and Business Crime Sussex , as well as example from security systems companies . The focus was strengthening security department measures and improving collaboration between local garden centers and law enforcement .
Mark Gilbert , Commercial Director , Tates Garden Centres said : " This was an excellent opportunity to discuss with the West Sussex PCC and the head of Sussex Police Business Retail Crime the devasting effect that shoplifting is have garden centers . We were able to excuse the immense price to our business through the offence itself and the investing monetary value of more advanced protection applied science to avail combat this matter . The takeout from the confluence was that the police have amount to understand the in high spirits level of shoplifting we are get and that unionized crime gangs are need in that work across the region direct garden centers . "
The HTA also convoke a meeting with Thames Valley PCC Matthew Barber at Blue Diamond ’s Bicester Garden Centre , where they discuss crime prevention strategies for the sector . Blue Diamond ’s Head of Group Security , Nathan Wilson , and Group Security Manager , Zoe Piggott , hash out the importance of collaboration in tackling opportunistic theft , engineer crime , and other challenge affecting garden nitty-gritty .
Matthew Barber , Thames Valley PCC , commented : " As we step up the activity to fight shopping and violence towards staff across Thames Valley , I want to ensure the garden center sphere is not leave behind . Thames Valley Police have almost doubled the numeral of charges for shoplift this year , and I ’m rolling out the Disc system , free to retailers , to improve coverage . "
Nathan Wilson , Head of Group Security and Total Loss at Blue Diamond bestow : " It was a productive merging to talk about the addition in crime throughout the garden marrow industry and how we , as retail merchant , work out alongside the constabulary to take on the increase losses through opportunist theft , career felon and get up offense groups . What product are being targeted , and how Blue Diamond is looking at technology to support us in slenderize crime and ready our Centres a safe station to work and shop . "
These issue and meetings are part of the HTA ’s broader Retail Crime Support , which leave members with essential tools , resources , and steering on reporting and preventing retail crime . A late study let on that 71 % of HTA garden center consider theft a substantial issue , while 40 % note that abuse towards stave is a minor concern .
David Lydiat , HTA Public Affairs & Policy Manager aver : " The HTA has been heed to what members have been saying on retail crime and their experiences . This is a concerning subject , and we were knifelike to bring our members together with the cardinal decision - shaper in regional law forces . I am boost by the meetings and actions guide so far , and the HTA will continue to support our garden substance to foreshorten and extenuate theft . "
The HTA ’s fall budget submission also calls for enhanced support for retail offense bar , with a particular stress on rural policing resources to protect vulnerable garden center businesses .
For more info : Horticultural Trades Associationwww.hta.org.uk
