The Office of The Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire’s Post

Interesting read…. So glad the many impacts face by retail workers and retail loss today are being highlighted. The big questions is, how do we as a community of retailers and more importantly the governing bodies of the uk, protect our teams of amazing colleagues on the front line and the stock that they come to profit from?

🚨** Solving Retail Crime is Not Difficult ** 🚨 Everyday of the week MY LOCAL BOBBY catch between 20-40 shopifters or pick pockets, across all its beats in London, the suburbs, Ipswich and Milton Keynes. Sadly the law does not allow us to prosecute offences under £200, (hopefully this will change tomorrow in the King’s Speech). In every case we serve a Trespass Notice. Should that offender then commit further crime on that beat we look to prosecute for a Burglary offence, providing there is sufficient evidence. The prospect of a conviction for Burglary is a significant deterrent. The risk of getting caught by MY LOCAL BOBBY and prosecuted has seen dramatic reductions in offending across all our beats. Our retail communities regularly highlight that they finally feel ‘Safe’ at work and going to and from work. This is not rocket science. You simply have to enforce the law. That also means retailers have to step up and share CCTV and evidence. Without that there can never be a successful enforcement strategy and the shops may as well have signs up stating ‘take what you like’. #creatingsafercommunities #eliminatingthefearofcrime #brokenwindows

FAO all Airpor Security Manager and Officers: Organised crime does not only consist of drug smuggling, human trafficking or money laundering. An interesting article demonstrating how airports are critical to organised crime with groups sending people in and out of GB to steal from high streets and retail units. However these activities will have their own signs and indicators of people travelling. Make frontline staff aware. A potential sign or indicator could be: People travelling on a very regular basis, possibly flying in and out the same day with a lot of luggage. Airport staff are the key in identifying the absence of the normal and the presence of the abnormal. If it does not look right, raise with your supervisor or the police. Observe and report #OAR. Help tackle and restrict organised crime activities within our transportation infrastructure and protect communities and national security. #NUTPOC #OAR

‘Too close to the line’: Officers, sheriff sued by shop owners in vape store raids However, a group of businesses in Onslow County have opened a lawsuit claiming wrongful search and seizures took place at their stores, in violation of the North Carolina Constitution’s “fruits of their labor” provision. The provision protects the right of citizens to choose their own profession and make a living from their work without governments being overly involved. https://lnkd.in/eCSkurXY

Ordinary stores on High Streets used as fronts for criminal empires 👇🏼 The article highlights what we have been seeing for a while now, cash in hand businesses using shops as fronts to launder money for organised crime. Needs a multi-agency approach and use of other partner powers to disrupt their operations. https://lnkd.in/dvvJwHp4

There has got to be some honesty in this conversation. The police service is ‘creaking’. There is a recruitment and retention crisis in policing that is going to become worse in 2025. Policing priorities are not focussed on retail crime and never will be. In London, highly experienced detectives are having to be reassigned from specialist pro active teams, tackling serious and organised crime, drugs, knife, gun and gang crime, to try and bolster local Borough investigations of high harm offences, such as rape, sexual offences and domestic violence. Investigating and arresting shoplifters is not going to solve the current failure in police response targets. There are other options available with proven success but retailers refuse to consider or invest in them. It’s time for ‘honesty’ and less propaganda from certain senior cops looking for a cosy high paid retirement job in the retail security sector.

As holiday shopping kicks into high gear, the stress of the season can sometimes lead to unexpected situations, like a shoplifting charge. While many may view shoplifting as a “victimless” crime, the reality is far from it. Police regularly investigate and prosecute these cases, and the long-term impact on your life can be significant. At Chieppor & Egner LLC, we understand the stress of criminal charges. As former prosecutors, we have in-depth experience with retail theft cases across Pennsylvania, allowing us to identify weaknesses in the evidence against you and push back against a “simple win” for the prosecution. Reach out to learn more! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gNYjn5a9 #ChiepporEgnerLaw #DedicatedDefensePA #LancasterLawyers #TrustedAttorneysPA #LancasterLegalAdvice #YourRightsOurFight #DefenseWithDedication #PersonalizedLegalCare #LegalSupportPA #CriminalJusticeChampions #LancasterCountyLaw #ShopliftingCharge #Shoplifting #RetailTheft

It's encouraging to hear that Operation Opal, the new centralised police unit, is beginning to make headway against organised shoplifting gangs. 👏 Retail theft has long been a significant burden, particularly for small business owners who often feel the impact more acutely than larger chains. With shoplifting offences reaching a 20-year peak of 443,995 reported incidents leading up to March 2024—a staggering 30% increase from the previous year—it's clear that this is more than just a minor inconvenience. It's a severe threat that affects profitability, employee morale, and the overall viability of many businesses. 😟 Each incident can be debilitating for small retailers, leading to financial loss and increased stress. Operation Opal's identification of 152 prolific shoplifters in just three months is a promising start. This initiative must continue to gain momentum, not only to protect retailers but also to restore confidence in the high street. Collaboration between the police, retailers, and the community ensures that this progress leads to lasting change. 🤝 We should celebrate this positive step forward and hope it marks the beginning of a more secure environment for all retailers. In this environment, the focus can return to serving customers rather than constantly guarding against theft, which may, in turn, save consumers money. 💪🛍️

New laws are now in place to protect WA retail workers from repeat shoplifters and violent attackers. 🔒 Individuals who attack retail staff on duty can face up to 7 years in prison, or 3 years and a $36,000 fine. If the offender is armed or with others, the penalty can rise to 10 years' imprisonment. A recent survey by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) revealed a 56% increase in reports of physical violence against retail workers compared to two years ago. These higher penalties aim to deter those who seek to intimidate, harm, or exploit retail workers. You can report acts of violence to the WA Police on 131 444 or at your local police station.

🚨 Pleased to see that Government has listened to us and has announced that #violence against retail workers is to be made a separate offence. Our research found a rise in threatening behaviour, intimidation, and/or assault over the last four years, alongside increased reports of serious organised shop #theft 🏬 Read our #CrackingTheCase report 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eY46JUS2 #BusinessCrime #Crime #SmallBusinesses #Retail #RetailCrime