Summary
- NBCC launches new data-sharing framework to help police and retailers tackle shop theft, organised crime and violence against shopworkers.
- Process developed with NPCC experts, ensuring GDPR and Data Protection Act compliance with full audit trails.
- Guidance and forms published on the NBCC website to support consistent, legally compliant information sharing.
A new national data-sharing process designed to help police and retailers tackle shop theft, organised retail crime and violence against shopworkers has been unveiled by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC).
The landmark framework enables police forces to share information on crime activity, emerging trends and known offenders with retailers, business crime partnerships and security providers in a legally compliant way. It forms part of the Tackling Retail Crime Together strategy, launched by the policing minister in July.
Developed with input from the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Data Protection Team, the process ensures compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR. It includes a clear audit trail of what data is shared and for what policing purpose, streamlining an area that has previously been hampered by lengthy data sharing agreements.
Patrick Holdaway, who led the work for the NBCC, said: “Data sharing between the police, partners and retailers is a critical tool in crime prevention but it has historically relied on the need for data sharing agreements, which can take time to put in place. We have worked with data sharing experts to develop a range of forms so data can be shared with retailers, private security companies BIDs and BCRPs where there is a policing purpose for doing so.
“By sharing information about known offenders it will help police and retailers intervene earlier, preventing crimes before they escalate.”
The NBCC has also published detailed guidance for police and business crime partners, outlining what can and cannot be shared, what constitutes a policing purpose, and the forms required to ensure compliance. The documents are available via the NBCC website.