The Metropolitan Police has quadrupled the number of shoplifters brought to justice in London using new technology that lets retailers submit evidence directly to officers. The system, piloted in six boroughs, is now being expanded to eight more.
How the technology works
The platform allows retailers to submit CCTV footage, witness statements, and other evidence directly to police, cutting the time officers wait for footage from up to 28 days to just minutes. This speeds up tracking, arrest, and case building against offenders.
Currently, subscribing retailers in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley use the system. From Tuesday, it will be available to retailers in Southwark, Lambeth, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley, Hillingdon, Ealing, and Hounslow.
Retail giants on board
Scotland Yard said retail giants including Tesco, Boots, Marks & Spencer, and Greggs are using the technology. Their bosses have spoken out about the impact of the surge in retail crime on their businesses.
In a recent case, a teenage boy went on a shoplifting spree worth more than £100,000 at Boots and Holland and Barrett. He was spared jail by a magistrate at Highbury Corner Youth Court in May, when he was told to seize the opportunity to turn his life around.
In June, Michael Belgrave, 55, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Ealing Magistrates’ Court to nine months imprisonment and made subject to a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO), the Met said, after stealing more than £4,000 worth of goods from shops including Greggs and BP. The CBO bans him from entering any branch of Holland and Barrett, Greggs, or BP across England and Wales.
Impact and expansion
The Met said that when the new system was used, there was a caution, charge, or other criminal disposal in 29.4% of cases – compared with the average of 7.3% before it was introduced.
Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met’s lead for business crime, said the tool is helping the force identify shoplifters more quickly and bring more of them to justice. “Tackling retail crime remains a top priority for the Met,” said Mr Pathania. “Reported shoplifting offences across London are down by almost 4%, but we’re not taking our foot off the pedal as evidenced by this continued use of new tech. Shoplifters should be under no illusion – we are increasing our capability to catch you and put you before the courts.”
Julie Murphy, vice president for Boots’ London and travel division, said the health and beauty giant was committed to partnering with the force to tackle retail crime. She said: “The results published by the Met today show that we are making progress in bearing down on shop theft, and Boots is pleased to be supporting the roll-out of direct to police reporting via the platform to a further eight London boroughs.”
