'Gangs of feral youth are out of control' - Retailers to tell TD's of astronomical rise in shoplifting

Retailers are set to tell TDs this morning how shoplifting and antisocial behaviour has reached "astronomical proportions" all over the country.

The Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA) and Musgraves, the Convenience Stored and Newsagents Association (CSNA) will appear before the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Leinster House this morning.

Representatives will tell of the "alarming rise" in shoplifting and underage youths who "get a kick out of intimidating staff".

It will also be heard that shoplifting has reached "pandemic levels" and there has been a significant rise in the abuse that staff receive over the last few years.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, CSNA Chief Executive Vincent Jennings said:

"This level of vile and misogynistic, racist abuse has been growing and it is now reaching pandemic proportions and I'm really concerned that we won't have the ability to hold staff if this keeps going."

Watch LIVE as the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment meets for engagement on the issue of shoplifting and how it is affecting retailers with @Musgraveplc @CSNA_Ireland & the Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Traders Association
https://t.co/yPV0eRmSRq

— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) December 13, 2023

Mr Jennings also said there has been a spike in people using children to steal as they think they can't be prosecuted and one of the suggestions that will be put forward today will be that each instance of abuse carried out by a child must be the subject of a Tusla referral.

Mr Jennings also criticised policing adding that his staff members have been told by Gardaí they should have their own security in place to deal with the thefts and abuse.

Director General of RGDATA, Tara Buckley will tell the committee this morning that it is "no exaggeration to state there has been an explosion in crimes against retailers in recent years", and "gangs of feral youth who are completely out of control and believe they are untouchable and can abuse who they want and steal whatever they want with no consequences and organised gangs who arrived into towns and to rob order."

The retailers are asking for the Government to step up their efforts in order to tackle the escalating issue and that the recruitment of more front line Gardaí would be welcomed with a dedicated operation by Gardaí to tackle these abusive assaults on retail workers is specifically needed.