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Book your place at ACS’ Crime Seminar, taking place virtually between 10-11.15am on 23rd March 2021.

The event will feature the launch of the 2021 Crime Report, provide the opportunity to hear about best practice from industry experts and explore how the sector is working to tackle crime.

Minister for Crime and Policing Kit Malthouse has been confirmed to address the seminar to talk about action the Government is taking on retail crime and violence, including ACS’ work in partnership with the Home Office. 

Confirmed speakers and panellists include:

Today (12th March) the Welsh Government set out its first steps out of lockdown, with “stay local" guidance replacing "stay home".

First Minister Mark Drakeford said that the easing of rules in Wales was the start of a “phased approach” out of lockdown.

From 22nd March there will be gradual easing of non-essential shopping and non-essential aisles in supermarkets and this will be followed by the reopening of non-essential retail on 12th April.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Government to take urgent access to ensure long-term access to cash and to provide local shops with support in order to continue providing this service to their customers.

Today (11th March) marks one year since the Government outlined its commitment to legislate to secure access to cash at Budget 2020.

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Last year, the government carried out a major and wide-ranging review of gambling laws to ensure they were, and remain, fit for the digital age. As part of this, it was announced that, in October 2021, the minimum age to play The National Lottery will be raised from 16 to 18.

Taking place on 21st March, this year’s census is not only about collecting essential information that underpins decisions that impact everyone, it is about celebrating ordinary people and the extraordinary contributions they have made to their communities.

Census 2021 will be the 22nd census of England and Wales and to mark the occasion, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is awarding 22 local community heroes with bespoke purple plaques which can be displayed at either their workplace, home or in the wider community.

Two things happened last week that have prompted me to write this: we had Rishi Sunak’s second budget, and closer to home our Voice of Local Shops survey results came back. This is our quarterly survey of about 1,200 retailers in which we find out their levels of optimism, future plans, and views on a range of issues where we’re talking to government. It’s an invaluable part of what we do, making sure that we’re able to share facts as well as sentiment as we take part in policy discussions on issues that retailers care about.

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Our new whitepaper takes a closer look at how shoppers view the current state of shopping at physical brick-and-mortar stores following the outbreak of COVID-19.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting impact on almost every facet of our daily lives. From the way we work to the way we socialise, the outbreak of the virus has forced us to reimagine what were seemingly routine activities in our daily lives in order to stay safe.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to an Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) call for evidence on the next steps for the implementation of deposit return schemes.

The call for evidence sought views on; materials in scope, scheme design, obligations on retailers, recent changes in retail activity and how the scheme works in relation to other Government waste schemes under the Resource and Waste Strategy such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

ACS’ key recommendations for the scheme include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a HMRC consultation on sanctions to tackle tobacco duty evasion, highlighting the detrimental impact that the illicit trade has on legitimate retailers.

The consultation sought views on proposals for new sanctions linked to the UK’s tobacco track and trace system, and extending HMRC’s traceability enforcement powers to Trading Standards officers. ACS’ response to the consultation also highlighted that enforcement action against local shops is not a panacea for the illicit tobacco market.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has delivered the 2021 Budget, announcing a three part plan as part series of measures to continue support for businesses as the UK recovers from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Headline measures announced by the Chancellor include: