Traders tackle underage sales, illegal trading and retail violence

Cllr Janet Emsley with retailers

Local retailers are being armed with the skills to prevent underage sales, illegal trading and retail violence.

In the 12 months from 1 April 2014 there were 34 violent shop robberies and over 60,000 counterfeit items seized from stores across the borough.

Initiatives set up and run by the council’s public protection service, such as providing health and safety support, and counterfeit goods monitoring are combatting these issues.

They have already made an impact, as statistics show 26,000 more counterfeit items were seized in 2014 than 2013 and violent premises robberies reduced by 24 incidents.

As part of this crack-down on retail crime, more than 30 businesses attended an annual seminar run by the council’s Responsible Retailers Scheme last month. The seminar provided retailers with information on legislative changes to e-cigarettes and new plain packaging regulations as well as legal highs and licensing regulations.

Retailers also took part in a Challenge25 workshop where they were shown photographs of customers and asked to guess their age. This highlighted the importance of asking for identification when selling age-restricted products such as tobacco, alcohol and knives.

A training package was also offered to ensure all members’ employees understand their legal obligations.

Councillor Janet Emsley, Rochdale Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said: “It was great to see the cream of our local retailers turning up to show their support for age-restricted sales and responsible retailing.

"It is so important that we work together to ensure the products we sell, like alcohol and tobacco, are safe for our customers and are being used in a responsible way by responsible adults. By doing this we can improve the health and wellbeing of our young people and curb antisocial behaviour, which in turn will create a safer community for everybody in the borough.”