Retail crime with particular reference to Shop Watch

Report: 12
Date: 06 December 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an update on the current position around retail crime with particular reference to the Shop Watch initiative.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

1. The British Retail Consortium suggests that retail crime costs every household in the UK an extra £90 each year on their shopping bills. 75% of retailers responding to a Crime Concern survey stated they were seriously worried about crime and the effect on their business.

2. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) collects data on theft shoplifting and deception offences. Although the deception total includes non-retail crimes, these are only a small proportion of the total. A large proportion of shoplifting offences come to notice when a suspect is detained, contributing to a comparatively high detection rate for these offences. Stock-loss within the retail trade indicates significant under-reporting in this area and also suggests misappropriation by employees.

3. The offence figures indicate an encouraging downward crime trend in both categories. The total number of deception offences 2002/3 is recorded as 79,775; this number goes down to 75,442 the following year and 67,416 during 2004/5. The policing year to date up to the end of September 2005 shows 24,634 offences. Detection rates for deception offences indicate an improvement from 7.8% for 2002/3, rising to 10.2% in 2004/5 and a rate of 12.4% year to date.

4. The total number of shoplifting offences recorded in 2002/3 is shown as 41,999. This figures goes down to 40,116 the following year and 39,764 offences recorded in 2004/5. The total offences year to date stands at 20,754. Detection rates appear as 48.1% in 2002/3, rising to 50.6% the following year and 56.9% for 2004/5. The Theft Shoplifting detection rate for year to date, end of September 2005 appears as 55.9%.

5. Police and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) support for town centre monitored CCTV systems and shop-front installations in small shopping parades are impacting on retail crime. Improved information sharing with partners, banning orders and use of Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) conditions all combine to target persistent offenders and reduce criminal activity in retail areas. ‘Ringmaster’ type early warning schemes and target hardening through the use of new technology such as ‘chip and pin’ are also reducing retail crime.

6. Safer Neighbourhood teams across London are making an impact. Two excellent examples of the many successes:

• St Hellier Ward, Merton – over the twelve months since the team started, local traders reported a 60% increase in trade, increased footfall, improved staff retention, reduced crime and anti-social behaviour
• Marks Gate Ward, Barking and Dagenham – increased police visibility and problem solving activity led to the re-instatement of a local bus route, saved local shops under threat of closure and led to Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) being hailed as the ‘blue angels’ by local residents

7. Another area, which has proven its worth over the last eighteen months, and one that is becoming a key element in tackling retail crime, is ShopWatch. This is an employer-supported initiative that sees retail staff training to become Special Constables. Once trained, ShopWatch special constables hold full police powers and are given paid leave to patrol one day per fortnight in key retail areas alongside other experienced officers.

8. ShopWatch has the full support of the directors of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) who represent well over 80% of retailers in Britain. The BRC singled out ShopWatch as a powerful initiative very much worth considering in its influential annual industry Crime Survey, which was launched in October 2005 at their National Crime Conference. The BRC’s Director General, Dr Kevin Hawkins and Hazel Blears MP urged retail businesses to seriously consider joining the scheme as soon as possible.

9. The current position with ShopWatch in London is favourable. The scheme is successfully up and running in five areas, namely: Camden; Oxford Street/Regent Street; Brent Cross Shopping Centre; Bexleyheath; and Wood Green; with rolling recruitment in place for these schemes and a number of new ones.

10. Negotiations with a large number of retail Head Offices have been successful over the last twelve months. Businesses are now able to launch a strong internal awareness and recruitment campaign via a complete London Retailer toolkit, launched in July 2005, which includes information packs, briefings, multimedia and posters.

11. A comprehensive off-the shelf toolkit for police officers and staff in the 32 boroughs has been produced. This package allows local teams to recruit businesses and staff into the scheme and handle all processes from start to finish. As a result a significant number have taken the initiative and started setting up the scheme to the MPS template.

12. The list of primary and secondary benefits to both local retailers and the shopping public from ShopWatch is extensive and many of these benefits are being seen across London. Arrests and penalty notices being undertaken by the new recruits; public confidence and reassurance increases with more uniform officers in high street locations. For stores and staff the visible benefits include reduction in stock loss, fraud and staff dishonesty, improved staff morale and a sense of developing a safer shopping environment. ShopWatch Special Constables work closely with Safer Neighbourhood Teams on long-term problem solving initiatives to address community concerns.

13. Media coverage and interest remains high, including recent reports on the first arrests made by ShopWatch Special Constables in the newly launched Wood Green scheme as well as recruitment drives across the capital.

14. The MPS operates a dedicated Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary (MSC) Employer Support team of two police staff within the Safer Neighbourhoods Unit. This team is developing ShopWatch and similar schemes in other sectors such as: Borough Beat for Local Authority staff; Campus Watch being piloted in two universities; and Hospital Watch.

15. In September 2005 the Home Office received a number of bids from police forces across the country for funding to launch ShopWatch in key town centres. The aim is to work together to form a nationally recognised and standardised initiative giving an even higher weight to the programme in the perception of the retail industry. The growth of ShopWatch nationwide is likely to bring more retail businesses into the partnership, however it is the expansion of ShopWatch into a rapidly increasing number of retail areas that will see ShopWatch become even more significant in tackling retail crime in London.

16. An evaluation of the Oxford Street / Regent Street scheme is currently being initiated to coincide with the one year anniversary of the launch of this scheme, with results due by the end of 2005.

17. The current trends in retail crime reduction appear encouraging. Safer Neighbourhood Team problem solving activity and partnership initiatives such as ShopWatch, provide the link with Business Improvement Districts, Town Centre Management schemes and Local Strategic Partnerships, seeking to work with the business community in reducing crime.

C. Race and equality impact

The Specialist Crime Directorate is currently conducting research to examine the levels, nature and characteristics of crimes committed against minority ethnic businesses. The project aims to develop more effective processes for reducing business crime.

D. Financial implications

The MPS is fully backing ShopWatch and has committed to provide funding of the scheme until at least mid-2006. The MPS has also received funding from the Home Office in the development of the programme.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Commander James Smith

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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