EARLIER this week, Essex Police asked the public how many suspects they thought had been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in Essex this year.
The answer is that, since 1 January, officers have made 1,025 arrests for shop theft.*
And they have also secured a total of 1,733 shop theft charges in that time.**
But the force says it can’t do this without the help of retailers and the public.
Thanks to a close working partnership between Essex Police teams, retailers and business organisations, the force says it is getting the evidence – such as witness statements and CCTV footage – to build strong cases to put before the courts.
Lee Hammond, Head of Profit Improvement and Internal Security for the East of England Co-op, says the retail chain works closely in partnership with the Essex Police Business Crime Team ‘in all aspects of crime prevention and prosecutions’.
“Through working together to target prolific offenders, providing impact statements and suppling CCTV footage, we’re able to provide the best evidence possible, which often results in successful prosecutions.
“Shoplifting is a crime that carries consequences, and we will continue to do all we can with the Essex Police Business Crime Team to protect our colleagues and customers and the wider retail community,” adds Lee, who is also a member of the Essex Business Crime Strategic Board.
Denise Rossiter, chief executive of Essex Chambers of Commerce, agrees that a key component in the fight against shoplifting, is to get more convictions, especially of persistent offenders.
“Critical to this effort is for retailers and the police to work together, for example on initiatives where retailers are actively involved in compiling strong evidence to help the police to bring prosecutions and ensure offenders face justice,” she says.
“Essex Chambers of Commerce is pleased to have been able to work with Essex Police and several large retailers over a number of years to help raise awareness and develop strategies to combat a problem which is not victimless – as it is sometimes portrayed – but can have serious effects on shop staff and shoppers.”
Sergeant Christian Denning, of the Business Crime Team, says the force is working hard to combat and reduce shoplifting.
“There has been a rise in reported cases of shoplifting nationwide and, of course, the situation in Essex reflects this. But Essex remains below the national average for shoplifting incidents per 1,000 residents,” he says.
Business crime officers work with retail partners to advise them on how to gather crucial evidence which will strengthen cases put before the courts.
And, in return, the team gains valuable intelligence and information which helps them to keep abreast of emerging crime trends and to adapt their specialist crime prevention advice accordingly, such as store layout, staff safety and premises security.
“We also work with policing teams across the county, many of which have specific operations in place to target known prolific offenders,” explains Christian.
“We support them with the provision of crime prevention advice and advise on the legal powers available to apply for at court. This includes criminal behaviour orders, which can be used to ban frequent shoplifters from stores or require them to attend drugs or alcohol treatment courses, to address the root causes of their offending.”
By continuing to work closely with our communities and businesses, the force says it wants to ensure a safer shopping environment for everyone.
Christian says: “Central to this is retailers reporting shop theft, assaults on staff and associated anti-social behaviour to us, either through our website at www.essex.police.uk/ro or by ringing 101. If it’s a crime in progress, ring 999.
“The information you provide helps us to identify, arrest and build cases against shoplifters – whatever the total cost of the goods they steal.”
* Arrests for shop theft. This relates to the number of arrests our officers have made between 1 January and 24 September 2024.
A person may have been arrested more than once for theft from a shop during the time period. And they may have been arrested for more than one offence.
** Shop theft charges: This figure will not be the total number of shop theft charges which will be secured against people arrested during a specific time period.
While many are charged before being released from custody immediately following their arrest, some suspects will be released under investigation or bailed while officers continue investigating.
When an investigation is complete, a suspect may be charged or may have no further action taken against them.
So this figure will include charges relating to arrests made before the time period begins and won’t include charges which are secured beyond the end of the time period but which related to arrests made during it.
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