Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle crime against convenience stores.

The Government takes retail crime very seriously. We recognise the damage and disruption that different crimes can have on businesses including smaller businesses and convenience stores.

Through the National Retail Crime Steering Group, which I co-chair with the British Retail Consortium, we bring together representatives from government departments, the police and the retail sector to focus on the crime issues that affect all parts if the retail sector. The Association of Convenience Stores is represented on the Steering Group and is helping to shape the agenda at national level.