Fed Members Featured in Newsnight Discussion on Retail Crime

Fed Members Vince and Fiona Malone have again been interviewed on BBC Newsnight the continuing problems with retail crime on the same day that Government data again highlighted high levels of theft in shops.  The interview came as BBC reporting highlighted problems with illegal drug use on the High Street and problems with rogue trade on the High Street.

Thursday’s interview with Mr and Mrs Malone came 18 months after they were previously interviewed by Newsnight in 2024 when they reported theft was causing their business in Tenby in West Wales “about £26k annually, roughly £500 every week”.

Whilst they say theft rates had fallen significantly since the installation of a CCTV and AI tool which cost them about £13,000. Mr Malone said: “We are under no illusion that theft has stopped… there is a problem of social acceptance”.

Mrs Malone also spoke about the challenges of confronting shoplifters and the need to challenge shoplifters “as they need to know it is wrong – last year Vince was punched in the face and the shoplifter asked why it was wrong as shoplifting was a victimless crime.”

Despite the marginal fall in shoplifting reported in ONS Government data yesterday, the Fed’s National President has called for further action to be taken to control it further.

Meanwhile, the Fed has continued to call for more action on shoplifting and for society to better recognise the human nature of theft because of the emotional toll it plays on retailers, whilst undermining their economic viability, leading to wider inflation in shopping costs for small businesses.