Crime against businesses in South Shropshire was the focus of discussions when Stuart Anderson MP chaired his latest business roundtable discussion event with Shropshire Chamber of Commerce.
The event brought together local employers to discuss a joint response to business crime, which encompasses any offence that impacts a business, including retail, rural, and agricultural enterprises.
Discussions also focused on the impact of shoplifting and theft from local retailers and businesses. Businesses across South Shropshire are being urged to report every crime, regardless of their severity, to the Police.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“The roundtable discussion event with Shropshire Chamber of Commerce and local employers made it very clear: reporting every crime, regardless of severity, is a vital step towards ensuring South Shropshire gets the policing it deserves. Without accurate reporting, official crime statistics undercount the scale of the problem. That makes it harder for West Mercia Police to allocate resources and develop targeted responses for rural communities. Research from both NFU Mutual and British Chambers of Commerce has shown the importance of this issue. Nearly 9 in 10 rural retailers were hit by theft last year, costing £83,000 on average. Yet 42-45% of businesses don’t report incidents to the Police. I’ll be taking these findings to Ministers. But the first step is on all of us: log every incident."
Liz Keirle, Policy Manager at the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Businesses across Shropshire are increasingly concerned about the evolving nature of crime, from retail theft to more complex issues such as cyber risk and exploitation. What came through clearly is the importance of stronger collaboration between businesses, policing partners and local organisations. Improving awareness and encouraging consistent reporting is critical. Without accurate data, it’s much harder to target resources effectively. By strengthening communication and building confidence to report, we have a real opportunity to take a more proactive approach to protecting our businesses and communities.”
Research has shown that rural retailers, including independent stores, village shops, farm shops, and machinery and equipment stores, are being severely impacted by shoplifting and theft. According to NFU Mutual, nearly 9 in 10 rural retailers have experienced theft in the past year, resulting in significant financial losses averaging £83,000 per retailer. Meanwhile, the British Chambers of Commerce has reported that two fifths (42%) of UK firms experienced some form of crime.
As farming operations become increasingly technology-driven, they are also more vulnerable to cybercrime. Many farmers may not recognise that they are operating highly sophisticated businesses that rely on interconnected digital systems. It was agreed that greater awareness and education are needed to help farming communities better understand cyber risks and implement appropriate safeguards.
A key message from the discussion was the importance of reporting all crimes, regardless of perceived severity, to the Police. Without accurate reporting, crime statistics do not provide a true picture of where offences are occurring - making it more difficult to allocate resources and develop effective responses. Accurate reporting remains one of the most effective tools in tackling crime against businesses and ensuring action is taken.
Businesses can report crime to West Mercia Police via 101 for non-emergencies, 999 for emergencies, or online at www.westmercia.police.uk
