Representatives from major high streets have urged the government to reform policing and crime reporting across the UK.
High Streets UK, which represents 5,000 businesses, spoke out against escalating violence against shop staff.
The group’s key recommendations include an uplift in dedicated police in and around flagship high streets.
Meanwhile there should be a national framework for businesses to report crime.
Dee Corsi, chair of High Streets UK and chief executive of founding member, New West End Company, said: “Flagship high streets are engines of the local and national economy, drivers of tourism, and anchors for communities. But without urgent national action on crime, they are at serious risk.
“We have welcomed the government’s renewed focus on retail crime in particular. But we must go further and faster to tackle all types of crime affecting high streets, having a devastating effect on businesses and communities, tarnishing the UK’s global reputation, and jeopardising tourism and investment.
“At our Safer High Streets Forum, we shared our frontline experience of the international criminal gangs, business crime, prolific offenders and anti-social behaviour affecting our high streets – none of which can be meaningfully tackled with the current systems and resources in place.
“Together, we have set out a clear, practical blueprint for change. It’s now time to focus on delivery.”
High Streets UK previously called for urgent reform to protect physical high street locations from disproportionate tax burdens.