The government’s spending review, unveiled on 11 June, offers little support for small businesses, according to the Fed.

While the review pledged an extra £2bn for policing and an increase in neighbourhood officers, the Fed said it failed to address concerns over security for retailers.

Mo Razzaq, the Fed’s national president, said: “Although plans for an extra £2bn for the police and increasing the number of neighbourhood officers by 13,000 were announced, it is disappointing that our repeated calls for grants to help retailers improve their security systems have been unsuccessful so far.”

The review also outlined commitments to invest at least £80m per year in tobacco cessation programmes and enforcement to support the delivery of the Tobacco & Vapes Bill.

The Fed: 96% of independent retailers struggling amid rising crime costs

However, Razzaq said the Fed would be writing to the government to seek clarification on what the enforcement entails, highlighting that the trade in illicit tobacco is an “increasing problem” for retailers and that they want to see “firm action” to tackle it.

He added: “In addition, our members are currently adapting to higher National Insurance contributions that were announced in the Autumn budget, but which only took effect in April.

“In the wake of the spending review and run-up to the next Budget, we will be calling on the government to reduce the cost pressures on our businesses by reviewing recent tax increases and providing proper Business Rates Reform, so they can continue to serve their communities.”

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