Nottinghamshire Police is trialling the use of a new crime intelligence software platform enabling the force to take even faster action to tackle and deter shop thieves blighting retailers.
The force has been using the Auror platform over the last two months, enabling store staff to report crimes directly and more efficiently to the police within minutes in real time and making it quicker and easier for businesses to capture and share key evidence and information about incidents, such as CCTV footage, offender and vehicle descriptions, and witness statements.
This speedier and more streamlined reporting can allow police to investigate reports more effectively, as well putting resources in place at the earliest opportunity, in the right places at the right times, to help prevent further crimes as well as target repeat prolific offenders.
It’s also hoped use of the platform will save time in police investigations, help officers to build stronger cases and solve more crimes due to the high quality of evidence shared, as well as reducing harm to victims and making areas even safer to visit.
In one recent instance intelligence was provided by Boots staff, via the Auror platform, following a report of a travelling organised crime gang targeting items from a store in Netherfield.
Police were swiftly able to carry out inquiries into the theft, which happened on 17 May, leading to the arrests of three suspects on suspicion of theft.
Officers arrested the suspects, all from the Luton area, after finding them in a car in the Newark area. Three large bin bags full of cosmetics were also recovered from the vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing.
Auror is just one of a number of crime intelligence systems being used in Nottinghamshire to help tackle and prevent business crime by enabling police to work collaboratively alongside retailers and other key partners including business crime reduction partnerships and business improvement districts.
Shop workers are able to use handheld devices with internet access to access the platform via an app.
Retailers can also use the technology to share information and reported incidents with other stores via these platforms, so they can use that to prepare more effectively and focus any action on affected shops targeted by repeat offenders.
Business crime officer PC Joanna Baxter, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “As a force we fully recognise the importance of joint working with our businesses and partners to help tackle and prevent retail crime and make people feel safer.
“The roll-out of crime intelligence platforms like Auror are helping us tackle retail crime by improving the speed and efficiency of reporting and giving us an even richer intelligence picture to help us identify and pursue offenders, such as organised crime groups targeting multiple locations.
“By working together, we can understand who is causing the most harm to our communities and develop plans to actively prevent and detect crimes.
“Our effective use of this technology is helping us to build a comprehensive picture of offending and is sending a clear message to retail crime offenders.
“There is nowhere for them to hide and we will do everything we can to bring them to justice and to protect our retailers, their staff, and our wider communities from the harm they cause.
“It’s just another example of the hard work that is going on behind the scenes on our high streets to protect our businesses, their staff, and members of the public from the damage caused by shop theft.”
Nicky Harrop, Head of Security, Fraud and Contract Management at Boots, said: “Tackling the growing levels of retail crime is a collaborative effort, so we’re pleased to work alongside Nottinghamshire Police, and use effective platforms like Auror to help make our stores safer for our customers and colleagues.”
Other successful retail crime initiatives the force is involved include the multi-agency Open 2 Recovery programme which aims to reduce reoffending by targeting and rehabilitating people responsible for the biggest impact on retail crime and whose repeat offending is driven by substance use and the need to fund their habits.
The scheme uses problem-solving methodology to reduce reoffending and make communities and businesses safer by tackling the underlying root causes of why offenders commit crime.
If you see something suspicious related to retail crime in your area, please do not hesitate to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or in an emergency, dial 999.
Alternatively, people can report to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or make a report online via our website.
