Before I came into office one of the triggers for my seeking election was witnessing an attempted shoplifting which I prevented. I find it reprehensible. Enough is enough.
I welcome the news today which is a culmination of lobbying with my PCC colleagues-
Assault on shopworkers is a new standalone offence - this one gives me joy as I know the fear amongst shopworkers
Tagging for serial shoplifters so on the third occasion they are tagged to deter them from committing serial offences
Using technology to protect workers and tag goods to deter theft
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13289933/Shoplifters-stopped-t…
Since then it has become a national blight on our high streets. I myself chased 3 shoplifters last summer and would do it again. In Dorset we have not seen the same organised crime group effect as prevalent as elsewhere but it has changed and is more organised with stolen goods being stolen to order and resold by other unscrupulous retail outlets. Over 70% of shoplifting is thought to be due to addiction and I am driving much work to address the issue of illegal drugs in Dorset. I will focus here on the issue of shoplifting.
The issue for the police was that shoplifting was not reaching the level of threat, risk and harm – in effect it was not a high enough priority. Nor had it been a priority for the previous Police and Crime Plan. That is why I put it specifically in my 7 year Police and Crime Plan which is under half way through.
To change this lack of action I have done the following:
- Convened a new partnership board called the Dorset Safer Business Partnership (DSBP). This brings together Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across Dorset with Chambers of Trade, some representatives of retail chains, other significant retailers and the police. This seeks to improve four areas – three around retail crime. These are reporting, police engagement and prevention.
The effect of this is Dorset Police now have a strategic plan and a tactical plan to address retail crime.
- Regarding reporting we know that a significant amount of shoplifting goes unreported. There is an inherent conflict for retail businesses where they have already lost stock and then lose time across the whole of the reporting process and prosecutions. The reporting process needs improvement to reduce the barrier to reporting.
I asked Dorset Police to address this and these are the improvements:
- There has been improvement with an intelligence button now on the website to allow more reporting by those who may witness it.
- There is now more discussion between Dorset Police and the retailers directly
- There is an initiative to renovate Dorset Police reporting for retailers and progress on this is being held to account through the DSBP
This last action is too slow so I have taken two other actions :
- Introduced the UKPAC Crime Reporting Platform to Dorset. This is a unique, online information-sharing system that is helping drive down low-level crime and antisocial behaviour across the UK. This links with Dorset Police and allows far easier building of evidential cases. The three Business Improvement Districts – Bournemouth Town Centre, Poole and Coastal have with my support come together to form a Business Crime Reduction Partnership working with UKPAC. In addition I made available a small grant for each BID to address shoplifting and criminality directly. Both Wimborne and the Ferndown and Uddens BID benefitted from this grant.
- Made a grant fund available for 200 retail businesses not part of a BID across Dorset to join the UKPAC system. Businesses are currently being recruited. Once they have been there will be significant press coverage of this county-wide approach to reassure the public and deter the criminals.
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/24198708.dorset-businesses-urged-sign-new-ukpac-system/
- I have made it clear that I expect Dorset Police to investigate every shoplifting report and to attend where a suspect has been detained or they has been an assault against staff.
Two further actions have occurred.
- Dorset Police have launched Operation Shopkeeper to arrest prolific shoplifters and this is now paying dividends. This is beginning now to be shown through in the press. Here are a couple of recent examples:
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24094924.man-court-shoplifting-offences-bournemouth/
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24159112.man-banned-town-centre-retail-shops/
Even before Shopkeeper, Dorset Police we were able to get some significant successes and were congratulated on saving one retail outlet over £250,000 versus the previous year. This will continue.
2. Dorset Police are also taking action against retail outlets who deal in stolen goods. I have asked that licensing be used effectively and also raised it with the local authority to ensure that we have effective join up. This is also now being publicised.
- There are two associated areas where I have sought improvement.
- Lobbying at a national level through the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to improve all aspects of the system from prevention in retail through to prosecution.
- As chair of the Dorset Criminal Justice Board I have asked for a presentation of Operation Shopkeeper and a review of sentences to ensure that guidelines are being followed for the next board meeting.
Going forward I will be doing the following:
Increasing visible foot patrols in hotspot areas to deter criminality including shoplifting
Continuing Operation shopkeeper
Holding Dorset Police to account for attendance for detentions and assaults/harassment from shoplifters
Driving the Dorset Safer Business Partnership and working with the BIDs and the Business Crime Reduction Partnership to deliver more improvements
Supporting the recruitment for the UKPAC Crime Prevention System in Dorset
Through the Dorset Criminal Justice Board ensure the effective use of tagging is fully adopted
Convening a regular meeting of national retail chains at a regional level to work together to deter shoplifting and increase prosecutions
Continue to lobby government at a national level to give more support in this area
My promise to you is that if I can continue the 7 year plan then we will cut shoplifting in Dorset. The police are now taking it seriously and are being crimefighters again
It is part of my plan for Dorset to be the safest county.