A local county councillors has voiced further concerns over retail crime across Pembrokeshire’s communities - with some business owners reporting increased frequency, greater boldness from offenders, and delays in police response.

Before the summer season kicked in, Cllr Chris Williams, county councillor for Saundersfoot’s south ward spoke of his concerns over retail crime and shoplifting impacting not only the seaside village he represents, but surrounding areas as well, and efforts to tackle it.

“Nearly 12 months on from initial discussions in Tenby about retail crime, concerns remain high among local businesses in Saundersfoot and neighbouring towns,” Cllr Williams stated this month.

“Despite regular monthly meetings with local PCSOs, shoplifting continues to be a major issue, with some business owners reporting increased frequency, greater boldness from offenders, and delays in police response.

“While the recent national ‘summer blitz’ on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, led by Welsh Chief Officer Amanda Blakeman, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, has been welcomed, questions remain over how these measures will be applied locally.

“The initiative, covering 500 towns across England and Wales, promises more patrols, stronger retailer–police collaboration, and the use of new technology such as facial recognition.

“Local businesses are keen to see these steps implemented in Saundersfoot and across Pembrokeshire and I have called for a meeting in Saundersfoot with senior police representatives to discuss practical ways forward,” he added.

Despite Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announcing a national ‘summer blitz’ on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour earlier this year, communities across Pembrokeshire seem to have seen little difference to police patrols, from any other summer, even though the population in seaside towns such as Saundersfoot and Tenby swells from 4,000 to around 50,000 with the influx of holidaymakers over the school holidays.

Dyfed Powys Police promised that shoppers and businesses would see increased police patrols to tackle town centre crime this summer as part of a major blitz to make high streets safer.

The move will see more officers in several Mid and West Wales towns during peak times over the coming weeks.

The Home Secretary stated: "This summer our new neighbourhood policing guarantee means over 500 town centres are getting extra neighbourhood patrols and action on town centre crime, and we are delivering the first 3,000 increase in neighbourhood officers and PCSOs in communities by next spring."

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers warned once again recenrtly that shoplifting is not a "victimless crime", adding retail stores are being increasingly targeted by "organised crime gangs".

Across England and Wales, 530,643 shoplifting offences were logged in 2024-25, up 20% from a year earlier, and the highest since current police recording practices began in 2002-03.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said the figures reveal the scale of the "epidemic of retail crime", adding incidents have more than doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: "Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers."