New Zealand to establish new advisory group to address retail crimes

The New Zealand government is setting up a two-year advisory group to curb the growing number of retail crimes across the country.

"The new Ministerial Advisory Group will engage directly with victims, workers, business owners, retail experts, and advocacy groups over the next two years to provide the government specific proposals to address urgent challenges in retail crime," said Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith in a statement.

The group will be led by Sunny Kaushal, who is the chair of the Dairy & Business Owners Group, as well as the president of the Crime Prevention Group.

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee said they are running a "targeted expression-of-interest process" to ensure that the group has the right combination of skills and experience.

"This group will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029 and reduce serious youth offending by 15%," McKee said in a statement.

Carolyn Young, Retail NZ chief executive, said they welcome the government's latest initiative.

"We are pleased the government is committed to tackling retail crime. We are working closely with Retail NZ members, New Zealand Police, and government on a range of measures to combat retail crime, including the introduction of new technologies, more resourcing for police and increased protections for retail staff," Young said in a statement.

Growing retail crime numbers

The Justice Ministry's announcement follows its previous declaration last month of upcoming reforms aimed at addressing serious retail crime in New Zealand.

These measures come amid growing pressure on the government to address increasing retail crimes in New Zealand.

"Around 230,000 New Zealanders work in the retail sector, with increasing numbers experiencing the personal and economic impacts of violent and theft-related crimes," Goldsmith said.

Over the past five years, there has been an 86% increase in retail crime of all types, and 72% increase in sexual assault-related offences in retail locations, according to Goldsmith.

Woolworths also recently unveiled that it saw 50% more incidents of physical assault against store employees in the previous year.