• Have you heard about shoplifting and looting incidents (on a large scale, possibly with violence) in your area?
  • Some people would suggest it's OK to steal from chain stores and big corporations? Are they right, and does it have no effect on their bottom-line?
• In your opinion, what might lead someone to engage in shoplifting?
  • The cost of living crisis?
  • A business opportunity?
  • Addiction?
  • Our capitalistic / ultra-consumerist society?
  • The thrill?
  • Peer recognition?
  • Something else? Have you heard of people like this?
• What security measures do businesses have in place to prevent theft and general anti-social behaviour terrorising staff and clients? (think security, protocoles, infrastructure, etc.)
  • Should it really be businesses paying out to protect their businesses or should their be more police on the street and better community initiatives?

1. What is the problem on UK high streets?
2. What are three of the reasons given for the problems?
3. What are some of the measures being taken by businesses as preventative measures?

1. Why are store managers considering closing shop?
2. What is the meaning of "threadbare policing" in column 2, paragraph 3?
3. What does Sharon White mean when she says highstreets have become "shells of their former selves"?
4. What were shop theft rates in 2019?
5. What is the meaning of "day in, day out"? "Every day" or "every other day"?
6. What three measures has the Co-op taken to counter store thefts and violence?
7. According to Lucy Brown, what are the negative effects of crime preventative costs for stores?
8. Why does Gerrard blame the cost of living crisis for the criminality?
9. What is the meaning of "flogging" on page 2, column two, paragraph 5?

1. How surprised were you by the information presented in the text, particularly the statistics on the impact to business?
2. What are your thoughts on the role of law enforcement in responding to shoplifting incidents, given the statistics mentioned in the text?
3. How do you think businesses should balance the need for profitability with the cost of implementing security measures to prevent theft?
   • Do you agree with the statement that some stores are becoming commercially unviable due to shoplifting? Why or why not?

1. Some people think...
2. Some people are concerned that...
3. It has been described as...
4. Experts believe...
5. ... argues that...
6. ... seems to suggest that...
7. One view is that...
8. The main reasons for... are...
9. Overall, ...

Alternatives to 'Think' / 'Say' (Reporting verbs)

• argue, claim, emphasise, contend, maintain, assert, theorize, support the view that, deny, negate, refute, reject, challenge, strongly believe that, counter the view/argument that, etc.
• suggest, speculate, hypothesise, imply, propose, recommend, question the view that, postulate, etc.
• describe, show, reveal, study, demonstate, note, point out, indicate, report, observe, assume, take into consideration, believe, mention, etc.

a) If she did try and grab them or say something ...

b) ... So there’s that.

c) There’s nothing that the police can or will do.

d) Are they nicking them to sell, or nicking them to wear?

e) It’s a really, really difficult thing to prove sometimes, shoplifting.

f) It sounds like it’s a piece of cake -- you’ve got your security guard, or you’ve got your member of staff...

g)  and it’s so difficult!

h) and they say ”Look! you can see it’s them”, but you can’t, unless you know it’s him.

i) When I was there, there were 5 or 6 of us.

j) The security guards will not take a lot of people on!

k) We dont know... but what we do know is...

Criminality and in particular thefts are on the rise in your city and affecting your bottom lines. Not only are thefts affecting retailers, but crimes ranging from paper nicked from the photocopier and stolen IT equipment are becoming commonplace.

As local business leaders, you meet to discuss challenges, their impact and possible solutions.

Ideas:

• Installing improved security systems (alarms, CCTV, etc.)
• Hiring security guards or private police officers
• Initiating a neighbourhood watch programme
• Train employees to recognise suspicious activity and behaviour, and self-defence.
• Establish a reward system in exchange for criminal identification.

Local youths are engaging in intimidating behavior, affecting the safety and well-being of both residents and business owners. This situation is detrimental to the community.

As decision-makers in local government, discuss possible options to address the issue of anti-social behaviour and criminality in youth.

Ideas:

• Establish a youth mentorship programme to connect young people with good role-models
• Fund more recreational clubs, activities and events in the local area.
• Provide conflict-resolution training for residents and businesses
• Work with local businesses to create job opportunities and internships specifically for young people.