Convenience stores are being urged to carry out a root and branch review of every aspect of their crime prevention measures. The Association of Convenience Stores is calling for stores to become far more proactive rather than reactive. Full details of a three stage auditing system for member retailers will be announced at the ACS Conference in May with a launch date pencilled in for early summer. The scheme aims to bring crime consultants and retailers together to pinpoint blackspots to work on beating crime before it happens. A pilot scheme, run under the ACS' Retail Crime Forum, will involve retailers auditing their own crime prevention strategies ­ from staff training to security. In some stores independent specialists would repeat the audit, compare the results and recommend action. The scheme follows work already being done among ACS members in the north. They have been working with Customs and Excise to pinpoint bootlegged stock by monitoring sales of cigarettes through their EPoS systems. Data is analysed by C&E officials. If cigarette and alcohol sales are down, this could point to a possible link to organised smuggling in the area. The work points to how EPoS data could be analysed to track crime across all product sectors. ACS public affairs manager James Lowman said that the ACS was determined to become more involved in preventative schemes. l Customs & Excise is teaming up with the DVLA to warn all vehicle owners about the penalties of using private cars and vans to smuggle alcohol and cigarettes. Leaflets detailing penalties will be sent out to the public with the DVLA's car tax reminders. {{NEWS }}