Anti-shoplifting campaign begins in Northampton
The four week Crimestoppers initiative aims to get more of us reporting the crime.
An new anti-shoplifting campaign has begun in Northampton.
Crimestoppers has launched the new campaign to tackle the rising issue and its impact on local businesses, staff, and the wider community.
The four-week campaign, is supported by Northampton Town Centre BID, Northampton Retail Crime Initiative, which is managed by Northamptonshire Business Crime Partnership and Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone.
It aims to empower the community to speak out anonymously against shoplifters. Activity will include social media across Northampton Town, a digital AdVan in key areas and posters and window stickers distributed to local businesses.
Shoplifting continues to pose a growing problem across the UK. According to recent data from the British Retail Consortium, shoplifting incidents across the UK rose to 16.7 million in 2024, up from 8 million incidents in 2023, costing the UK £1.8 billion in losses.
"It's an increase in violence, it's an increase in intimidation, particularly for shop workers. "
Lydia Patsalides from Crimestoppers in the East Midlands says the crime has a massive impact on communities:
"I think the biggest thing that our community will see in terms of the impact of shoplifting is the increase in prices. Shoplifting causes an increase in insurance for shops.
"If it comes as an altercation, it's an increase in fear. It's an increase in violence, it's an increase in intimidation, particularly for shop workers. If there's only one local shop that's experiencing regular shoplifting, the upshot is that eventually, that shop might have to close down. And then that makes it inaccessible for local communities."
Alison Farr Crime Manager for Northamptonshire Business Crime Partnership and says they are aware of 550 active shoplifting offenders in Northampton in the past year. She say's it's mainly career criminals and those with addition issues who make up the fast amount of crimes.
Alison says it's turning people away from a career in retail:
"They're not seeing retail as a career move. They're seeing it as too problematic. And we deal with really stressed shop managers all the time that are saying we are getting hit five or six times a day by the same offender.
"So we do our best to try and support them and get in the statements together because we employ evidence gatherers as well to help the stores do that because they haven't got time to fill in shoplifting packs that the police send out."
"We deal with really stressed shop managers all the time that are saying we are getting hit five or six times a day by the same offender."
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone said: “I understand the significant impact that retail crime has not just on businesses but on the wider community. Our high streets should be safe for everyone.
“In Northamptonshire, we are committed to tackling retail crime by working together. That’s why I am pleased to support this partnership initiative to encourage people to report shoplifting, and anyone they suspect of selling stolen goods.”
Mark Mullen, Operations Manager at Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) said: “Shoplifting is often casually dismissed as a victimless crime but in reality it’s quite the opposite. High rates of shoplifting equate to rising prices, something that hits us all in the pocket every time we get to the till.
“This campaign shines a light on the reality of retail crime, the impact it has on hard-working shop staff and the cost to businesses at a time when many are already feeling the pinch of financial pressures elsewhere."