York and North Yorkshire's mayor, as well as the deputy mayor for policing, fire, and crime, attended a retail crime summit earlier this week.

David Skaith and Jo Coles attended the summit on Tuesday, November 12 to mark the 2024 Respect for Shopworkers Week.

The summit was held in collaboration with The Co-op Group and USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive, and Allied Workers), and brought together police and crime commissioners, mayors and deputy mayors, retailers, and other stakeholders.

Dame Diana Johnson MP, policing minister, was to deliver a keynote speech on the government's plans to tackle retail crime.

This was to include a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker, as well as other measures in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill.

The summit speech was to be the minister's first time addressing an event specifically on retail crime.

The event also hoped to provide an opportunity for police and crime commissioners, mayors, and deputy mayors to meet with retail and policing figures to discuss future policy-making, including "looking forward to upcoming work on reoffending and rehabilitation."

Mr Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: "As mayor, it is my mission to ensure that York and North Yorkshire is home to healthy and thriving communities.

"Ensuring our high street businesses are resilient and safe for all is vital to this.

"As a small business owner, and having worked in retail for many years, I recognise the damaging impact crime has on the sector."

Ms Coles, deputy mayor for policing, fire, and crime, added: "The rise in reports of shoplifting across the country is deeply concerning and was raised by many of the businesses I’ve spoken to over recent weeks across York and North Yorkshire as part of the consultation work on our future priorities for police and fire services.

"I’m looking forward to joining forces with the government to tackle retail crime and to ensure we maximise the support we’re able to give to retail businesses and their staff going forward too."

The Police and Crime Plan can be viewed at www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/police-crime-plan