Approximately 84% of newsagents and convenience store retailers have been the victim of aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour, according to the Convenience Store and Newsagents Association (CSNA).
The group, an independent retail association which represents over 1,500 members, all convenience store owners and newsagents, conducted a national survey in February of this year.
They sought and gained the support of major symbol groups BWG Foods and Musgrave Group to roll out this survey to the wider retail community.
‘Zero Tolerance’
The survey found that 43% of respondents said that they were a victim of crime within a month of answering the survey.
The representative body is now calling on regulatory bodies to act decisively and hammer down against crimes in their sector.
“Anti-social behaviour is at an all-time high and it is having drastic effects on not just our industry but all of those working in the front line of society dealing with the public every day,” said Vincent Jennings, chief executive of the CSNA, “it is a national issue of growing concern and our members have had enough.”
‘Insult To The Public’
Jennings reminded politicians that the retail industry is worth over €7 billion to the exchequer.
The sector employs almost 285,000 people, over 72% of whom work outside of the capital, “providing key services all over the country and retailers are calling on all of you, enough is enough,” he said.
“Turning your back on convenience store owners, forecourt operators and newsagents is an insult to the Irish public,” he added.
Marcella O'Neill, national president of the CSNA, added that the aggressive behaviour of some customers is “just one aspect of our day to day business, albeit a most concerning one”.
“When combined with ever-increasing insurance premiums, security costs and staff shortages, all security-related matters,” she explained, “the burdens that fall on the shoulders of our country’s retailers is just too much.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Helen Galgey. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
