Bexhill businesses tell of 'aggressive and intimidatory' offenders as shoplifting rises
Businesses in Bexhill spoke about their 'frustration' over shoplifting and having to deal with 'aggressive and intimidatory behaviour' from offenders at a meeting chaired by the town's MP.
Dr Kieran Mullan MP said more than 40 businesses attended the event at the De La Warr Pavilion last Thursday (November 6).
The meeting was held following the news that shoplifting in Bexhill town centre has risen by 50 per cent over the last year, according to police data.
Chief Inspector, Simon Yates, Rother and Hastings District said: “Bexhill has seen a 10.5 per cent increase in shoplifting with 71 more offences being committed.
“We are working with premises to both reduce offending and enhance positive outcomes aiming to bring more offenders to justice. Under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee you will start to see more officers and PCSO’s patrolling the streets.”
Cllr Christine Bayliss, Rother councillor for Bexhill Central ward and deputy leader of Rother District Council, and Tracey Love, interim president of Bexhill Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, also attended the meeting.
Cllr Bayliss said: “I was delighted that so many businesses took the trouble to turn up and to share their experiences and what struck me very powerfully was the experience of the women who work on their own in town centre shops and how vulnerable they feel when they are targeted by shoplifters and antisocial behaviour.
“We need to improve safety for women working in retail and I’m following up with the police, the MP and chamber about what we can do to support them.”
Dr Mullan said: “We heard directly from Bexhill businesses that shoplifting is escalating year on year, with serious consequences for both their livelihoods and community safety. This meeting was a valuable opportunity for business owners to speak directly with the police.
“Over 40 businesses attended and shared their experiences and frustration at persistent offenders, aggressive and intimidatory behaviour and how they deal with these issues.
“We won't fix this overnight but there are things we can do and we will be working together to ensure the police have the evidence they need and then it’s over to them to make sure offenders are punished and kept out of shops.”
Tracey Love said: “I am extremely thankful to the businesses who came to share their direct experience, especially our lone traders, who demonstrated quite clearly what Bexhill Chamber of Commerce & Tourism has been trying to impress for the best part of a year now.
“Having recently engaged with Chief Inspector Yates directly, and listened to his extremely honest appraisal of the situation I am confident that he is currently listening to the concerns of the town with a view to responding appropriately.
“Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is 100 per cent behind any activity that makes our shops and business premises a safer place to work, and we are thankful of the support from Dr Kieran Mullen MP and his office who have added some substantial weight to all three tiers of our local councillor voices.
“I hope this multi-agency approach, which would include Rother District Council and their endorsed Sussex Police DISC Crime Reporting System can gain traction, and achieve a positive result for the town.”