The group will propose legislation for the government to address community concerns about criminal activity targeting retailers.
Ambitious targets have already been outlined, with plans to ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029 and to decrease serious repeat youth offending by 15 per cent.
Michael Bell is Michael Hill’s national retail manager in New Zealand. He will be joined on the Ministerial Advisory Group by Waikato community advocate Ash Parmar, Foodstuffs’ North Island retail and property general manager Lindsay Rowles, and Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee said the group was committed to making New Zealand a safer place for retailers.
“New Zealand has seen an exponential growth in retail crime over the past five years, with an 86 per cent increase in retail crime of all types and, very concerningly, a 72 per cent increase in sexual assault-related offences at retail locations, she said.
“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.”
Among the group’s initial priorities are improving the ability of security guards to respond to retail offenders and enabling the use of facial recognition technology.
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