HL Deb 28 May 2002 vol 635 cc134-5WA
Lord Dixon-Smith

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much financial assistance they make available each year to improve security in the retail sector and reduce retail crime; and [HL4182]

Whether any of the financial assistance made available to the retail sector is reserved for the assistance of small retailers; and [HL4183]

What was the total level of financial assistance given to small retailers in the last full financial year. [HL4184]

Lord Rooker

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced on 27 June last year the provision of £15 million over three years from the Capital Modernisation Fund to assist small retailers in deprived areas to improve the security of their businesses: £3 million was available in the 2001–02 financial year, with a further £6 million in both 2002–03 and 2003–04.

This money, which is being spent on schemes identified by regional crime reduction directors, in conjunction with crime and disorder reduction partnerships, is being used to help small retailers to improve security. This is being achieved by employing a variety of interventions, including enhancing the security of individual premises and improving the environment of shopping centres. Nearly 3,000 shops in 114 retail schemes in some of the most deprived areas in England and Wales benefited from first year funds. More shops will be assisted in the next two years.

My department has also supported work undertaken to establish retail crime partnerships by funding a consultant post for the past two years. The consultant has worked closely with the British Retail Consortium to produce a definitive guide how to establish and run a retail crime partnership and encourage retailers and other stakeholders in main shopping centre areas to establish partnerships to tackle retail and related crime.

Funding totalling £223,000 was also given to aid retail crime reduction initiatives under various programmes administered by regional crime reduction directors in the financial year ending 31 March 2002 and a further £86,500 is expected to be disbursed through regional crime reduction directors specifically for retail crime reduction initiatives in the current financial year.

Other funding under the Crime Reduction Programme, such as the 170 million for schemes for the installation of closed circuit television, particularly in town centres, will help to reduce shop theft as well as other types of crime. Other initiatives such as the street wardens schemes will also be of benefit to retailers in the areas where they operate.

My department also makes advice available to retailers and crime reduction practitioners on the crime reduction website www.crimereduction.gov.uk, including best practice guidance in the "Toolkit" on Business and Retail Crime. Booklets which give crime reduction guidance to retailers have also recently been updated and give advice in a user-friendly postcard format leaflet entitled Don't Discount Crime.