Bedfordshire Police say the close relationships their officers are building with local shopkeepers and staff has led to a rise in the reporting of shoplifting, helping them to solve more retail crimes.
Last year (2023), the force saw an average of 300 shoplifting crimes being reported each month, the solve rate of which tripled during the year due to retailers helping officers to build up an intelligence picture of the most prolific offenders in Bedfordshire’s town centres.
Launched in January this year, under the name Operation Belleville, community policing teams began using intelligence from the public and CCTV to identify the top suspects in different areas across the county as well as crime hotspots.
Officers then gathered evidence which has led to the courts issuing Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) designed to stop reoffending and get them the help they require.
In Bedford, high visibility patrols conducted under Operation Belleville led to 30 shoplifting-related arrests.
This led to resolving 149 crimes and securing 91 charges.
Superintendent Hoque, who leads community policing for the force, said: “Theft from shops can often lead to the use of violence and causes disruption to the safety of local residents as well as the shop staff and retail profits.
“I’m very pleased to say that the progress we have made in this areas as a force demonstrates how the close working relationship that our teams have with local retailers has helped to boost the level of reporting and has directly impacted how easily we can identify the most prolific offenders and get them off the streets.
“By locating common offenders, we are also able to tackle the root causes of these issues in the community and signpost individuals to any help they might need.”
If you experience anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood, or if you would like to report any suspicious behaviour, contact the police via their online reporting centre or call 101.
In case of an emergency or if the crime is still in action, call 999.
