Retail crime in the spotlight for the launch of Safer Business Action Week

Police officers from across Wiltshire and Swindon have carried out additional high-visibility and plain clothes patrols of Wiltshire’s high streets to deter retail crime from taking place in support of Safer Business Action Week, a week of action led by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC).

Neighbourhood policing teams across the Force have joined forces with partner agencies including local security staff, City Rangers, and Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID), to provide additional support to local retailers to prevent them from being a victim of retail crime. Teams have visited in excess of 225 shops across the county to provide retail crime prevention advice, encourage participation in Shop Watch schemes, and deter retail crime from taking place.

Over the past twelve months, from September 2023 - September 2024, Wiltshire Police received reports of just under 3,400 shoplifting instances, which is an 11% decrease from September 2022 – 2023.

Superintendent for Local Policing, Doug Downing, said: “Whilst the 11% decrease in reports of shoplifting offences to Wiltshire Police is positive, we recognise this crime is underreported. We encourage retailers to work with us by reporting all instances of shoplifting, no matter the value of the items. It is vital retail crimes are reported to Wiltshire Police so that all leads can be investigated and loss to businesses in our county can be prevented.”

As part of the week of action, neighbourhood policing teams have been visiting shops across the county to encourage retail colleagues to sign up to Shop Watch and Business Watch schemes. The schemes enable retailers to share information with each other to further prevent crime from taking place. Businesses can sign up to this via Wiltshire Police Community Messaging, the two-way messaging service where users receive relevant updates directly to their email inbox.

Superintendent Downing continued: “Our neighbourhood policing teams will continue to work alongside partner agencies to be a visible presence in our town and city centres to prevent retail crime from taking place. We continue to encourage retailers to report all instances of shoplifting to the police using our official reporting channels.”

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has provided funding for upgraded CCTV cameras in Chippenham and Swindon, and four mobile CCTV units in Salisbury. As well as anti-social behaviour wardens in Salisbury, funding was also provided to Swindon Borough Council to employ anti-social behaviour wardens in the town centre and in areas where anti-social behaviour has been identified as a particular issue.

The Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, has placed a renewed focus on retail crime in the first draft of his Police and Crime Plan for 2025-2029.

Mr Wilkinson said: “I have spoken to shop managers and small to medium business owners, who have made it clear to me that they want to something done about the criminals who are having a profound effect on their ability to survive in the current financial climate.

“It is also clear that people who work in retail should feel they can go into work without the fear of being assaulted or abused.

“I’m aware of situations in Wiltshire where this has happened, and I want anyone who works in the retail industry to know that my team is working with Wiltshire Police and our partners to make your working environment safer, and to make you feel safer.”

If you are a retailer operating in Wiltshire or Swindon and would like to join your local Shop Watch scheme, get in touch with your local neighbourhood policing team, Chamber of Commerce, or sign up via the Wiltshire Police Community Messaging website. To learn more about retail crime prevention, please visit the Wiltshire Police website.