Members of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) are calling for the new Welsh Government to bring in a £6,500 grant to enable independent retailers to install modern CCTV to combat retail crime.

The measure is one of three of its manifesto proposals the organisation has submitted to party leaders in the run-up to the election in May 2026.

Others include the creation of and funding for a Retail Crime Taskforce that is a similar way to the one that exists in Scotland and for a crackdown on rogue trading by providing ring-fenced funding for trading standards officers.

It is hoped better-resourced teams will be better able to curb sales of illicit tobacco and vapes to children and adults. Such action would also support legitimate businesses undermined by the black market, as well as delivering a blow to the organised crime gangs which the Fed believes are often behind illegal trade.

With retail operating costs soaring, the Fed is calling for the new government to provide retail, hospitality and leisure relief for small businesses, similar to that in place in England.

The Fed’s Welsh president Clive Birkby said: “We are calling on all parties standing to put small independent Welsh shops at the heart of their agenda. In particular, we are calling for action to tackle retail crime as well as on the cost of business through limits to Business Rates bills and a smooth and fair rollout of the deposit return scheme (DRS).”