The number of retail crime cases solved has almost doubled, new data released today (Wednesday, 21 October) reveals, during an innovative new crime reporting trial between Co-op and Devon and Cornwall Police.
The new technology partnership delivers significantly faster justice for offences carried out, with data from Devon & Cornwall Police showing crimes reported through the platform - which is called SentrySIS – achieving a solve rate of almost 60%, which is approaching double the force’s average solve rate for retail crime versus retail crime being reported by those using traditional channels.
New data from Devon & Cornwall Police also revealed that 90% per cent of identified shop theft offenders are repeat offenders, with just 50 individuals responsible for around a quarter of all shop theft offences in the Devon and Cornwall force area, often with more than 100 known offences each – highlighting the benefits of early intervention to prevent further offences blighting local communities.
The new system enables stronger intelligence sharing; improved tracking of repeat offenders - connecting multiple offences committed by the same individual and building stronger cases against prolific offenders and, closer collaboration with police both at a local and central level. All combining to drive stronger crime-solving outcomes.
Store colleagues upload incident details, CCTV, photos and impact statement enabling police to record and allocate the crime in as little 30 minutes - a process that could take police upto seven days. Furthermore, it removes the need for investigating officers to then approach the retailer for evidence, saving time for retailers and resulting in the average time taken for investigations to be completed and assigned an outcome being slashed by more than a third to just 35 days.
The success of the pilot has seen the SentrySIS system – which links to Co-op’s wider partnership working with UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) – now activated across all Co-op stores in Devon and Cornwall, with discussions now underway with additional police forces.
Co-op’s own retail crime levels are falling with the retailer expected to see its lowest levels since the pandemic.
Overall retail crime at Co-op is down almost 20% year-on-year, with incidents of anti-social behaviour and verbal abuse reducing by more than a third (35%), along with a double-digit drop in physical assaults. However, whilst welcome, Co-op remains cautiously optimistic as retail crime levels remain double those levels seen pre-pandemic after the shop crime surge at the start of the decade. Continued co-operation amongst retailers, police and government is needed to bring about meaningful, sustained and lasting change to tackling retail crime, and its underlying causes.
Paul Gerrard, Director - Campaigns, Public Affairs and Policy, Co-op, said: “The reduction in retail crime at Co-op is very welcome, but these are green shoots with crime levels remaining higher than before the pandemic. The success of this initiative demonstrates the benefits that we know can be realised when retailers and police work together.
"We have seen that offenders can be identified and investigations can progress much faster and, importantly for everyone, outcomes improve significantly. The fact that such a high proportion of crimes are carried out by repeat and prolific offenders highlights why early intervention is so important - every successful investigation has the potential to prevent many future offences from blighting our high streets and local communities.”
Chris Chaloner, Business Crime Sergeant for Devon & Cornwall Police, said: "The results from this pilot have been extremely impressive. The evidence provided through the platform is available to officers immediately, allowing investigations to progress much more quickly.
"Crucially, this approach helps us to link crimes and identify and target those prolific offenders who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of retail crime. We know that a relatively small number of individuals commit a large volume of offences.
"By working closely with retailers, building effective partnership and receiving high-quality evidence we can take earlier action, secure more charges and achieve better outcomes for our high streets and communities."
Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said: “Collaboration between the retail industry, police and government is exactly what I want to see as Chair of the Retail Crime Forum. This pilot is a great example of what can be achieved when working together to tackle crime.
“Shop theft is falling across the country, and more criminals are being charged. This is good progress, but we will go further, restoring neighbourhood policing, with thousands more officers already in our communities.
“We are also changing the law to make it clearer that there will be consequences for shop theft of any value and bringing in a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker.”
Alastair Woodburn, a Co-op Store Manager in Exeter, said: "The system has fundamentally changed the way we report crime. Our store was one of the first to adopt it. It is quicker to use and gives us confidence that the information police officers need is available to them immediately - and the outcomes are fantastic.
"Retail crime can be challenging on the frontline, but it is a rewarding job too. The majority of people rely on and value a local community shop, unfortunately it is just a small number of offenders carrying out most of the crime. This process Identifies and links offenders - building the full picture.
"Co-op has invested significantly in safety and security measures, and this latest measure sends a loud message to offenders, it clearly shows just how effective it can be when retailers and police work together to tackle the prolific offenders that do so much harm in communities."