Key Highlights from Safer Streets Summer (July 2025):
- 37 business-focused events, including 9 SABA days.
- 650+ additional patrol hours in Leicester City Centre.
- Retail-specific patrols in Fosse Park, Melton Market, and night-time zones.
- 8 shoplifting charges from a single plain-clothes operation (Op Detect).
- Crime Reduction Training delivered to retail managers.
- “Meet Your Inspector” events hosted at retail locations across the region.
Retail crime has come under sharper focus in Leicestershire this summer, with police dedicating substantial resources to tackling shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and other offences affecting local businesses as part of a Home Office-backed campaign.
The first month of the Safer Streets Summer initiative has delivered a marked increase in engagement and enforcement activity across high-footfall shopping areas, including targeted operations in Fosse Park, Melton Market, and Leicester’s night-time economy zones.
The campaign, which launched in July and runs through hotspot areas in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, is designed to reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB), street crime, and retail crime.
37 business-focused engagements and 650 patrol hours
According to a summary released by the force, 37 business-focused events have been delivered during the first month, including nine SABA (Safer Action Business Advice) days, which provided guidance and engagement for shop owners and staff. Officers also clocked over 650 additional patrol hours in Leicester City Centre, helping to reassure both retailers and the public.
Retailers also benefitted from dedicated Crime Reduction Training hosted at Leicestershire Police headquarters, aimed at equipping managers with tools to deter crime and work more effectively with law enforcement.
“Our dedicated neighbourhood teams are proud to use the Safer Streets Summer campaign to highlight the work that they do supporting the communities and businesses,” Superintendent Paul Allen, Silver Commander for the Safer Streets Summer campaign, said.
"The partnership work, problem solving and patrol activity taking place this summer are a reflection of the value which Leicestershire Police places in our neighbourhood teams and of the dedication these officers have to their communities.”
Eight shoplifting charges in one day
A standout success came through Operation Detect, which deployed plain clothes officers in Market Harborough and Hinckley to monitor and intervene on persistent shoplifting activity. The operation led to eight charges in a single patrol, underlining the campaign’s targeted approach to tackling retail crime.
This focus was echoed in “Meet Your Inspector” events held at various retail locations, which aimed to strengthen communication between shop managers, local officers, and community policing teams.
Community and retail sector support
The campaign is underpinned by strong collaboration with councils and community safety partners, with activities such as joint ASB patrols with Melton Borough Council, and partnership events like Coalville’s Picnic in the Park receiving positive feedback.
In Melton and Rutland, consistent engagement between retail teams and neighbourhood officers has helped tackle ASB hotspots and strengthen local confidence in policing.
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews praised the campaign’s early impact and said it reflected concerns raised by local people and businesses.
“I know from my conversations with local residents and councillors that anti-social behaviour and street crime remains a concern, so this impressive start to the summer campaign is welcome news,” he said.