| Josie Russell's new life Survivor of brutal hammer attack talks about her first art exhibition bbc.co.uk |
State pension will be over £100 The state pension will climb to over £100 a week for the first time next year. telegraph.co.uk |
Shoplifters cost UK retailers £12m a day Employees blamed for more than one third of £4.4bn lost annually as a result of retail theftShoplifting costs UK retailers an annual £4.4bn, with over a third of losses caused by employee theft, according to a report. The average shopper pays £180 a year extra to cover the cost to stores of combatting crime, according to the 10th annual survey into retail theft by the Centre for Retail Research.The average theft by a visiting shoplifter is £93 but criminally minded employees run off with a typical swag bag worth £1,988. At the top of the target theft list for both employee and customer criminals is alcohol – and in particular whisky, according to Professor Joshua Bamfield, author of the report.Opportunistic employees are responsible for thefts relating to cash, including taking money from tills to topping up loyalty cards or using credit cards fraudulently. All types of shoplifter are attracted most to branded goods because they are easy to sell on.Food is also a top target, with fresh meat and luxury-packaged meats often stolen either for personal use or to sell at bargain prices to willing food outlets such as a pubs.Stores are constantly devising methods to deter alcohol theft, such as adding security tags or asking shoppers to collect their chosen tipple at the till. Retailers invested £977m last year to help combat these rising crime figures, including investing in anti-theft technology, better supervision of staff and implementing software that can help spot fraudulent activity.The £12m a day price tag for vanishing goods means the average shopper pays £180 a year extra to cover the cost. But the overall cost of theft fell by 5.8% in the UK in the year to June 2010 following a spike in 2009 thought to be linked to the recession, suggested the report commissioned by retail security firm Checkpoint Systems.Bamfield said: "At one time it was razors because they are small and easy to sell on. But stores have tightened up security on these products which has pushed them into third place. Shaving products, perfume, skin oils leather goods and designer wear and small expensive items such as batteries can be sold on relatively easily.""Companies have had to up their game to beat this problem. A lot of the goods don't have a very high profit margin, so retailers have to sell a lot more to get back what has been lost. Many start with educating staff about the issue, explaining to them that pinching goods is not a perk of the job."Bamfield said employees' greed usually catches them out in the end. "They may start off taking £2 a week from the till, but after a few months start taking £50."Consumer affairsRetail industryConsumer spendingCrimeguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Byrne ruled out of Wales' Tests Wales full-back Lee Byrne's hand injury sidelines him for the first three autumn Tests, Chris Czekaj taking his squad place. news.bbc.co.uk |
Friend of Prince Charles killed in helicopter crash Charles Sisted, head of Guards Polo Club, among three dead after crash in Mourne mountains of Northern IrelandA personal friend of Prince Charles is one of three people who were killed in a helicopter crash in Northern Ireland at the weekend.Clarence House has confirmed that Charles Stisted died in the accident in the Mourne mountains on Saturday. He was chief executive of the exclusive Guards polo club in Windsor and was well known to the prince, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princes William and Harry.Stisted, 47, was one of three people killed when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in the remote site in County Down.A Clarence House spokeswoman said: "The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry are all shocked and deeply saddened by this terrible tragedy."Their Royal Highnesses' thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed at this dreadful time."It is thought the helicopter was returning to England after a shooting expedition.The Agusta helicopter was travelling from St Angelo airport in County Fermanagh and crashed at around 4pm at the Leitrim Lodge picnic area near Hilltown.Mountain rescue teams, the coastguard and other emergency services were alerted when a member of the public reported seeing an aircraft in distress, but it quickly became clear that no one had survived the impact.After a lengthy recovery operation police have now confirmed that the pilot and his two passengers were killed.South Down MP, Margaret Ritchie, said: "The local community is in absolute shock, but their thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims. What should have been a happy occasion has ended in tragedy."The accident was being investigated by the air accidents investigation branch of the Department for Transport.Democratic Unionist assembly member Jim Wells, who lives in the Mournes, said: "South Down has been hit by tragedies of this type over the years. It looks like we have had another accident which has led to multiple deaths."Wells said he saw the helicopter before it crashed."There was a very unusual noise coming from the engine. I don't know if that is in any way related to the tragedy but certainly it would seem that about half an hour later the helicopter came down at the other end of the Mournes," he said.The Mournes area is internationally renowned for its picturesque scenery. The mountain range is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.The highest mountain , Slieve Donard, is nearly 3,000 feet high.Northern IrelandAir transportPrince CharlesMonarchyHenry McDonaldguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |