Neighbourhood officers have been conducting targeted operations across West Bridgford and Nottinghamshire as part of a week of action to tackle retail crime and shoplifting.
Safer Business Action Week is a national initiative that brings together police, businesses and other partners to clamp down on criminals targeting retailers and to help better understand the daily issues they face.
The focus on retail crime saw daily high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols to target prolific criminals and visit businesses and retailers across the county between 10 and 14 November.
It is one part of a comprehensive approach to tackling retail crime by apprehending offenders, supporting victims and developing strategies to address the root causes of criminality.
This includes addressing the underlying causes of why offenders shoplift by working closely with substance misuse and homelessness organisations to signpost vulnerable people to further support.
© westbridgfordwire.com
In Mansfield, the neighbourhood team conducted a multi-agency operation aimed at targeting shop theft, drug use and dealing, homelessness and antisocial behaviour in the town centre.
Known as Operation Amberstag, the monthly initiative is conducted over two days in partnership with Mansfield District Council’s ASB officers, neighbourhood wardens, Mansfield Business Improvement District and security teams.
Proactive patrols and targeted arrests of prolific offenders were also conducted across Nottingham city centre.
In St Ann’s, Sneinton, Clifton and The Meadows, officers conducted proactive patrols to target shoplifters, held beat surgeries at Riverside and Castle Marina retail parks, and advised shops on amending their store layout to make it more difficult for criminals to operate.
In Rushcliffe, work has continued to crack down on shoplifters, with a string of prolific offenders receiving jail sentences in recent months.
During the week, officers investigating a series of shop thefts arrested a suspect.
Three different stores were targeted on five separate occasions between July and October.
Hundreds of pounds’ worth of food, drinks and other household products were stolen during visits to supermarkets in West Bridgford and Radcliffe on Trent.
Jars of coffee and a tray of lamb steaks were among the items stolen from the Co-op in Bridgford Road on 17 July after a woman left the store without making any attempt to pay.
The same supermarket branch was targeted again when chocolate, deodorant, painkillers and coffee were taken without paying on 15 September.
Sainsbury’s in Melton Road had bags full of steaks stolen during a separate incident on 5 October.
© westbridgfordwire.com
As part of efforts to apprehend suspects who visit the West Bridgford area to steal from retailers, a 39-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting at an address in Bingham on 12 November.
During the week of action, officers in Bassetlaw arrested four people found in the same house for shoplifting, recall to prison and a serious assault on 10 November.
A woman wanted for failing to appear at court and a man wanted for three high-value shop thefts were arrested on 11 November.
Two other men wanted for theft and recall to prison were also arrested on 12 November.
Officers also conducted plain-clothes patrols in Worksop town centre and spoke with businesses and market stall traders.
In Gedling, officers continued with Operation Descent, which involves high-visibility patrols on foot and in marked police vehicles at Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield.
They are on the lookout for known offenders identified through intelligence to help protect businesses and customers from the harm caused by shop thieves.
During the patrols, which also included supermarkets in Carlton and Burton Joyce, officers spoke with shop staff and retailers to check for issues and give guidance on promptly reporting incidents.
Inspector Dan Griffin, our business and retail crime lead, said: “We understand the impact of shoplifting and retail crime on businesses, staff and our communities.
“It is not victimless or against faceless corporations – it affects real people who want to work hard.
“The abuse that staff are subjected to will never be acceptable, and we’re committed to cracking down on prolific criminals and working with companies to disrupt and deter persistent offenders.
“As a force, we recognise the importance of working with our business community and partners to help tackle and prevent retail crime to ensure people feel safer.
“By working together, we can build a clearer picture of offending and develop strategies to target those causing harm while also supporting retail staff.
“Most shoplifting offences are committed by those who are stealing to fund substance misuse, such as drugs and alcohol.
“Organised criminal groups also steal items in bulk to sell for profit.
“We proactively target both groups through arresting offenders or signposting vulnerable people to further support with partner organisations, which is key for disrupting the repeat cycle of offending.
“It is key that support services are available to vulnerable people; however, we will not hesitate to act against those who continue with their criminal behaviour.”
Superintendent Lisa Maslen said: “Safer Business Action Week is a valuable opportunity to focus attention on the challenges businesses face every day, while celebrating the ongoing partnership work taking place across the country.
“The results we’ve seen from these collaborative efforts show the real impa
ct of bringing together police, local authorities and the business community to reduce harm and create safer places to work and shop.”
