‘Stark reality’ facing Tipperary retailers amid ‘recent escalation’ in retail crime
The issue was raised by Tipperary South TD Michael Murphy in the Dáil recently
A “stark reality” is facing retailers in County Tipperary amid a “recent escalation” in retail crime, the Dáil has heard.
The issue was raised by Tipperary South Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy during a recent ‘Other Questions’ session.
Deputy Murphy said: “The reality on the ground is stark. Retail crime is no longer sporadic; it is systematic.
“We are seeing organised shoplifting, repeat offenders and a growing sense among retailers that there is little deterrence and few consequences.
“For small and family-run businesses, retail crime leads to lost income, rising insurance and security costs, and in many cases fear among staff going to work.
“I hear directly from retailers that feel they are being asked to absorb the cost of crime themselves and that cannot be acceptable because right now the perception, and increasingly the reality, is that retail crime does pay.”
In response, Minister of State Alan Dillon said that the Government is focused on its retail crime strategy.
Minister Dillon said: “I thank the Deputy for his contribution. All retail workers deserve to go to work without fear and business owners deserve the protections of the livelihoods they have built.
“That is why we are very much focused on the retail crime strategy. It is well advanced and will include specific, targeted measures including prevention, enforcement and support for affected businesses.
“Operationally, An Garda Síochána has rolled out Operation Táirge, which has been successful.
“We have seen more disruption, arrests and prosecutions in many crime black spots, but we need to continue to redouble our efforts because retail crime needs to be confronted.
He concluded by saying that retail crime cannot be normalised and that the Government must work with retailers to make sure it is stamped out.
Deputy Murphy then responded by asking what immediate actions the Government is going to take to address the issue.
He stated: “We need to do everything we can to support our retailers. They are the real heroes at the local level due to the extent to which they hire locally, spend locally and invest locally.
“Those same retailers tell me that the offenders are well known. Incidents are frequent and brazen and the system is simply not responding at the pace required.
“We cannot let the situation continue whereby honest businesses invest, employ people and contribute to their communities while others repeatedly break the law with little fear of consequence.
“What immediate actions, not long-term plans, will be taken in the next three to six months? Critically, who is taking ownership of this matter across Government?”
In response, Minister Dillon said that the retail crime strategy is being worked on by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan.
He continued: “I have had extensive engagement with him and his officials. We have held a round-table meeting with many retailers, who were representatives of the retail forum.
“We want to ensure that strategy has concrete interventions and that these can be delivered within the term of the Government. It is a programme for Government commitment.”
Minister Dillon concluded by saying that the Department of Enterprise is committed to working with the Department of Justice on the issue.