Shoplifting solve rate tripled in Bedfordshire thanks to increased reporting
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Close relationships between local shops and officers from Bedfordshire's Police's local community policing teams have seen a huge rise in reporting by retailers whose confidence in our systems has been boosted.
As a result, last year the force saw an average of 300 shoplifting crimes being reported each month, the solve rate of which tripled during the year thanks to support from retailers helping officers to build up an intelligence picture of the most prolific offenders in Bedfordshire's town centres.
Launched in January this year, under the name Operation Belleville, community policing teams began using intelligence from the public and CCTV to identify the top suspects in different areas across the county as well as crime hotspots, officers have gathered evidence which has led to the courts issuing Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) designed to stop reoffending and get them the right help they require.
In Bedford only, high visibility patrols conducted under Operation Belleville have led to 30 shoplifting related arrests. Which subsequently led to resolving 149 crimes and securing 91 charges.
Superintendent Hoque, who leads community policing for the force, said: "Theft from shops can often lead to the use of violence and causes disruption to the safety of local residents as well as the shop staff and retail profits.
"I'm very pleased to say that the progress we have made in this areas as a force demonstrates how the close working relationship that our teams have with local retailers has helped to boost the level of reporting and has directly impacted how easily we can identify the most prolific offenders and get them off the streets.
"By locating common offenders, we are also able to tackle the root causes of these issues in the community and signpost individuals to any help they might need."
If you experience anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood, or if you would like to report any suspicious behaviour, contact the police via our online reporting centre or call 101. In case of an emergency or if the crime is still in action, call 999.