Safer Business Action Day Truro: Devon & Cornwall Police join partners to tackle shoplifting
Truro neighbourhood policing team were joined by partner agencies including Cornwall Council, Safer Cornwall, Truro City Council, Young People Cornwall, Cornwall Fire and Rescue, Shopwatch and Truro BID (Truro Business Improvement District), to conduct a Safer Business Action Day (SaBA) in the city centre recently.
Following joint planning between all of the partner agencies, it was decided that the key focuses of the SaBA would be shoplifting and associated anti-social behaviour. The Truro neighbourhood policing team have been working with local retailers to understand what issues are negatively impacting their businesses. Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour have been identified as two key issues within the city, and there have been increased reports of instances of both shoplifting and anti-social behaviour by local retailers. Officers have gathered intelligence from members of the public which suggests shoplifting and anti-social behaviour are concerning issues which are causing some local people to no longer enjoy spending time in the city centre. Nationally, there is an increased focus on retail crime, due to a significant growth in shoplifting, violence against retail staff, and increased organised crime. To support with tackling this, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) have recently released a retail crime action plan, and Truro policing team have set shoplifting and anti-social behaviour as two key priorities for the team to tackle.
During the day of action, plain-clothed officers were deployed into specific premises in the city to provide guidance and reassurance to shops that have reported frequent and ongoing shoplifting, which has been affecting the safety of their staff. Officers from the neighbourhood team carried out high visibility patrols in the city centre, visiting multiple local businesses to meet with staff, which provided them with an opportunity to raise any concerns or issues with the police, and provided an opportunity for local people to get to know their local neighbourhood policing team. In addition, CCTV from different businesses was monitored, and businesses were active on Shopwatch radios. The Shopwatch initiative supports retailers in Truro to work together with partner agencies such as Truro BID and the police to address crimes that are affecting Truro’s businesses, including anti-social behaviour.
Truro’s ASB Officer, Steve Lennon, joined the Truro Rangers to carry out their usual activities, which includes patrolling the city centre to provide reassurance to retailers and deter criminals from attempting retail crime. Truro Safe, Young People Cornwall, Trading Standards and Cornwall Fire and Rescue service attended the event and had stalls in the city centre enabling members of the public to chat to the team. Crime prevention officers were available to provide advice and guidance to members of the public.
PC Richie Wilson said: “The Safer Business Action Day was a success, and we achieved some positive results. It is hugely beneficial for the police to work alongside partner agencies to tackle local issues, and to understand a rounded view of how we can best target our resources to make Truro an even safer place to live and work. On behalf of Truro neighbourhood policing team, I would like to thank all of the retailers, partner agencies and individuals who supported the Safer Business Action Day, especially our volunteers.”
Following the success of this Safer Business Action Day, Truro policing team aim to conduct another day of action later in the year.
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