Wiltshire Police stepping up support for retail sector
The force admits they're not doing enough to tackle shoplifting and assaults
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has admitted that the force isn't doing enough to help the retail sector when crimes occur.
Philip Wilkinson says they are 'tackling retail business concerns' but says there have been occasions when 'an expected level of policing hasn't happened'.
It's in response to an open letter from the Association of Convenience Stores, to all police and crime commissioners in the country, calling for more support.
Wiltshire's PCC said:
“Businesses do have a right to feel frustrated – especially when they do not get an expected level of response from their local force to reported crimes. There have been several cases across Wiltshire where this has happened and it is clear our business community is not feeling safe. I want them to know, we are listening and responding to their concerns.
“The Chief Constable and I are determined Wiltshire Police will be more proactive, and robust, in its response to the commercial sector’s concerns. A range of interventions by the force is being worked upon – and plans to further increase visibility and tackle repeat shoplifting offenders, with the Chief directing a more strategic, and embedded, approach to retail crime to be included as part the Force’s overall policing response.
“As ever, the police do have finite resources – and they must be used where the most threat, harm and risk is identified – but that doesn’t mean Wiltshire’s business and retail sector must bear the brunt of that.
“My office is also engaging with local businesses and I am listening to their concerns and scrutinising the police response on their behalf alongside encouraging other partners, such as local authorities, to look more closely at how we can all work together more effectively to manage our town and city centres to make them safer places to live, work and visit.”
What's being done to make changes?
Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper has been setting out what they're doing to tackle the issue.
She says 'all reasonable lines of enquiry would be followed and urged retail businesses and shop workers to continue to report crimes, intelligence and provide CCTV footage'.
Chief Constable Roper said:
“Retail crime is becoming an increasing concern across Wiltshire, and I do not underestimate the misery it is causing business owners.
“As the public would rightly expect, we do have to prioritise our attendance at incidents which present the most risk, harm and threat to communities – however, through direct engagement with retailers, we are developing improved support to them through our frontline policing teams.
“Shoplifting is often an ‘indicator’ crime to other challenges in an area, such as organised criminality or drug supply – and can also often disproportionally involve young people.
“For us to properly support our victims and communities, we do need to focus more attention to this type of criminality, which is intrinsically linked to the force priority of ‘Safer Public Spaces’.
“My ask of business owners is to please keep reporting any such criminality and supply any intelligence and CCTV.
“We do take all reports of crime seriously and will follow all reasonable lines of enquiry to hold people to account for their actions.”