New tech sees Met quadruple number of shoplifters brought to justice

The technology allows retailers to submit surveillance camera footage, witness statements and other evidence directly to officers, allowing the latter to track, arrest and build cases against offenders more quickly. Previously, police officers might have had to wait up to 28 days or longer for the recorded footage and statements. The process can now take a matter of minutes.

Importantly, the technology is already being used by major High Street chains including Tesco, Boots, M&S and Greggs.

New figures show that, where shoplifting is reported using the new tech, there’s a positive outcome (a caution, charge or other criminal disposal) in 29.4% of cases. Prior to the tech’s introduction, the Metropolitan Police Service average was just 7.3%.

Building stronger cases 

Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Metropolitan Police Service’s lead for business crime, said: “The results speak for themselves. This crime reporting technology is helping us to identify offenders on a much faster basis and bring more shoplifters to justice. By receiving surveillance camera footage and evidence directly from retailers at the point a crime is committed, we can build stronger cases and act more decisively.”

Pathania added: “Tackling retail crime remains a top priority for the Metropolitan Police Service. Reported shoplifting offences across London are down by almost 4%, but we’re not taking our foot off the pedal, as evidenced by this continued use of new tech. Shoplifters should be under no illusion: we are increasing our capability to catch them and put them before the courts.”

The crime reporting platform is currently being used by subscribing retailers across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. As stated, and following on from the success of the pilot, the Met is now expanding its use to retailers in Southwark, Lambeth, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley, Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow.

Positive outcomes 

The Metropolitan Police Service remains committed to cracking down on shoplifters. In the last financial year, reported shoplifting offences across London fell by 3.7% compared with the previous year, which is equivalent to around 3,500 fewer offences.

Over the same period, the Met made almost 50% more arrests for retail crime, while the number of positive outcomes more than doubled (from 2,682 to 5,996).

Julie Murphy, vice-president for London and the travel division at Boots, explained: “Boots is committed to partnering with the Metropolitan Police Service to tackle retail crime in the capital. Harnessing retail crime technology, which is available in all Boots stores across London, enables our store teams to report incidents more quickly and effectively to the police and focuses our collective resources on targeting high harm offenders.”

Murphy concluded: “The results published by the Metropolitan Police Service show that we are making progress in bearing down on shop theft. Boots is pleased to be supporting the roll-out of ‘Direct to Police’ reporting via the platform to a further eight London Boroughs.”

*Further information is available online at www.met.police.uk