Shoplifting crimes almost double across Avon and Somerset
Nearly 14,000 shoplifting crimes were reported last month across the policing area, according to new figures
Last updated 21st Jul 2024
Shoplifting crimes in Avon and Somerset have doubled over the past two years according to the latest police data. Almost 14,000 cases were reported in Bristol, Bath, Somerset and South Gloucestershire last month.
Avon and Somerset Police is now trialling new ways of making reporting crime easier for shop workers, amid rising rates across the country. The force recorded 13,880 shoplifting crimes in October, compared with 6,720 in October 2021.
Chief constable Sarah Crew was grilled about what her force is doing to tackle the growing issue during a performance and accountability board on November 14. In Bristol retail staff can now use a QR code to report crimes to the police.
Mark Shelford, the police and crime commissioner, said: “The public feel that shoplifting is not taken seriously by the police, as do some people in the retail trade. Even though some instances of shoplifting might be of low value, the cumulative effect is significant.
“It’s divisive because if the big shops don’t take it seriously, the little shops are getting hammered. This can make both people in the retail trade and also the public feel unsafe, and lose confidence in the police.”
Most shoplifting tends to be committed by repeat and persistent thieves, according to the chief constable. The police are working with drug charities and homelessness services to tackle theft, as officers consider addiction to be a key reason driving people to steal from shops.
Ms Crew said: “We’re currently trialling an innovative QR code reporting system, that enables instant easier access for staff in retail premises to access our reporting systems much more efficiently. We’ve trialled that in Bristol and it’s been successful, and we’re rolling it out to Bath now and then across the area.
“We’re also running a trial in Bristol where we’re using anti-social behaviour powers to proactively target regular shop theft offenders. They’re very effective in setting things like exclusion zones or prohibiting people from doing certain things or going to certain shops and into certain areas. If the pilot’s successful we can look at rolling it out wider.”