Shoplifting is a concern for businesses in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, although the area’s overall crime rate is marginally lower than the national average. Let's examine the specifics. Fishguard, classified as a Built-Up Area (BUA) with a population of 3,427, currently has a crime rate of 85.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. For context, the United Kingdom’s average crime rate sits at 91.6 per 1,000. This suggests Fishguard experiences slightly fewer crimes overall compared to the rest of the country.
However, shoplifting, while not individually broken down in the available data, contributes to this overall crime rate and represents a direct financial burden on local businesses. The safety score for Fishguard is 78 out of 100, which is slightly below the UK average of 79. This score reflects the perceived level of safety within the area and highlights potential areas of concern, including the impact of shoplifting.
It’s important to note that the provided data doesn’t detail the specific types of crime occurring in Fishguard beyond the overall crime rate. Therefore, the extent of shoplifting's impact is not quantifiable with the information available. However, the lower safety score, combined with the general understanding of shoplifting’s prevalence in retail environments, indicates that it remains a relevant issue for Fishguard businesses. The overall crime rate demonstrates that Fishguard isn’t entirely immune to criminal activity, and shoplifting, as a common retail crime, likely plays a part. Businesses should be proactive in protecting their assets and ensuring a safe environment for staff and customers. Further investigation into local police reports and business owner surveys would be needed to fully understand the scope of the problem.