Supporting independent retailers to stay safe, informed and heard.
Independent Retail Crime & Safety Forum – 21 November, 2025
The Independent Retail Crime & Safety Forum highlighted current crime trends impacting independent retailers, practical safety strategies and incident response, policing insights and recommendations, member experiences and real-life examples, as well as tools to help protect your staff and store.
Couldn’t join us live? Watch the full session recordings below.
Introductions – Presented by Martin Stirling, CEO of MGA and Grant Hinchcliffe, President of MGA
HON. Milton Dick MP – Insight into advocacy and government engagement.
Rohan Pike, Illicit Tobacco and Organised Crime Expert – Discussion on regulation and market distortion
David Southwick MP – Policy considerations and the role of government in supporting independent retailers.
Luke Kirton – Detective Inspector, Victoria Police, Dr James Martin – Criminologist, Deakin University , Shane Kensett – Owner, Dicky Beach IGA and Corey Allen – Director of Training, Workforce Resilience
Hear firsthand the challenges retailers face on the ground.
David Bartlett, Safer Places Network – Turning private CCTV into shared intelligence and signing up to the Retail Intelligence Network
Corey Allen, Workforce Resilience – Practical strategies to protect your store and staff
Recent Media Coverage
MGA continues to advocate for stronger action against retail crime and support for independent businesses. Below is a selection of recent coverage highlighting the issues faced by our members:
Retail Staff Safety Training Videos
MGA Independent Businesses Australia is pleased to announce that our Retail Staff Safety Training Videos are now live and available to retailers nationwide.
Developed by MGA Independent Businesses Australia in partnership with Workforce Resilience, this practical series helps independent retailers manage challenging or potentially threatening customer interactions.
The short, scenario-based modules feature real retail team members and provide clear guidance on:
- Identifying behavioural warning signs
- Using de-escalation techniques
- Maintaining personal and team safety
- Responding to threatening situations
Available to all retailers, this resource supports safer, more confident workplaces. Members have been notified directly with access details.
Your stories help drive change.
If you or your team have experienced retail crime, aggression or unsafe behaviour in your store, we encourage you to share your experience confidentially.
Your insights help us:
- demonstrate the real impact on small and family businesses
- strengthen our advocacy to government and policymakers
- shape future initiatives and support for members
