In Parliament

Constituency Question - Church Street Traders

CHURCH STREET TRADERS.

Thursday 15 August, 2019.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (11:51):

My constituency question is to the Minister for Police, and I ask the Minister: what law enforcement measures are in place to protect Church Street Traders in Brighton from swarming?

The Church Street Traders, ably led by President Keiran Cromie, have raised with me the growing prevalence of swarming.

Swarming is where groups of offenders swarm shops to steal goods and run off with them. By working as a group, gangs know it is much more difficult for small businesses to protect themselves.

The Traders and the Executive Director of the Australian Retailers Association, Russell Zimmerman, have both confirmed with me the prevalence of swarming, and called for enhanced police presence in our shopping strips.

I look forward to the Minister’s response.