Drug addicts are targeting corner shops during crisis, chief warns

David Jamieson has vowed to increase support for convenience stores, claiming they have become the number one target for drug addicts since the lockdown started.

He said the restrictions meant users could no longer rely on begging to raise cash for their fix, driving them in increasing numbers towards shops selling essential food items.

The PCC said the problem would get worse when hundreds of addicts from the region are given early release from prison as part of a Ministry of Justice plan to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Speaking the West Midlands Combined Authority coronavirus briefing, Mr Jamieson said he was concerned about the risks drug addicts posed to shop workers.

"Many of the drug addicts... have had their source of drugs somewhat curtailed because the drug market has been disrupted by the present situation," he said.

"For those drug users who hour by hour, day by day, have to find money for their drug habits, usually by begging, well that source now has gone.

"The other sources are burglary and of course shoplifting.

"The amount of shops that are open is now very low, so the amount of shoplifting that is going on is happening in a smaller and smaller group of shops.

"Many shopkeepers are now at the front end of this, in having to deal with some of the people who are really quite dangerous and obsessed in getting money for their drug habit.

"The Chief Constable is very much aware of this. I think we need at this time to be supporting those people in our shops to go about their jobs safely."

Mr Jamieson said that in the last 24 hours he had been made aware of an incident of armed robbery at one shop in the West Midlands.

"It's not just minor things that are happening, it's quite serious things," he added.