Police preventing to crack down on Britain’s shoplifting epidemic have revealed they’re trialling a brand new crime reporting know-how that has been designed to quickly establish serial crooks. The know-how, which has been piloted in excessive crime areas resembling Lewisham and central London since January, permits retailers to submit experiences and CCTV footage immediately.
This provides officers fast entry to excessive‑high quality proof on the level of reporting and helps establish repeat offenders working throughout boroughs. Since its rollout, the optimistic final result fee – outlined as an arrest, cost or conviction – is 21.4%, which implies a couple of in 5 instances are actually being solved – properly above the Met common of 14%. It comes because the Met says it solved practically double the variety of shoplifting offences final 12 months and made virtually 50% extra arrests – rising by 1,800.
Their intervention comes after the Daily Express Stop The Shoplifters campaign demanded harder police motion to fight the £2.2bn crimewave.
Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes stated: “Cracking down on shoplifting is a clear priority for the Met. “By strengthening neighbourhood teams, using better intelligence and focusing on hotspot locations, we are arresting repeat offenders who cause the most harm to retail staff and local businesses.
“We’re also using new technology to work faster and more effectively, giving officers a much clearer picture of offending and helping build stronger cases. Where we have trialled this retail crime technology, more than one in five shoplifting cases are being solved.
“Strong partnership with retailers is essential. When crimes are reported promptly and CCTV is shared quickly, officers can take decisive action.”
Across London, shoplifting fell by 3.7% between 1 April 2025 and 31 March this 12 months, in contrast with the earlier 12 months. That equates to about 3,200 fewer offences.
That work is being delivered by means of a collaborative method that mixes new know-how with neighbourhood policing. By working intently with retailers and responding swiftly to experiences, officers are in a position to take decisive motion.
At current, simply 20% of shoplifting instances are submitted with CCTV proof. Where clear CCTV is supplied, officers are in a position to establish round 80% of suspects by working photos by means of facial recognition software program and crime databases.
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan stated: “Backed by record funding from City Hall, we’re redoubling our efforts to crackdown on shoplifting and antisocial behaviour across London.
“Advances in technology are a real game changer – allowing retailers and shop staff to report shoplifting incidents remotely using digital platforms and send evidence such as CCTV footage in real-time to help police identify culprits, make arrests, and secure prosecutions. This is already showing great results in parts of London.
“Latest figures show we’re making progress reducing shoplifting in London, but there’s more to do. The police will continue to work closely with businesses and use plain-clothed officers, extensive CCTV networks, and increased visible patrols to catch, arrest, and prosecute offenders, building a safer London for everyone.”
Sara Tetlow, Safer Business Network Partnership Manager stated: “Lewisham is one of our longest-standing business crime reduction partnerships and it stands out for the strength of its collaboration across the day and night-time economy, from the shopping centre to the wider high street.
“Through real-time intelligence sharing, and close work with police, the council and businesses, we can quickly identify high-harm offenders, protect vulnerable people and respond to emerging issues.
“That partnership approach is delivering real impact, with 83% of businesses telling us they feel safer in Lewisham.”
Data from the platform reveals the highest 20 retailers account for 92.1 per cent of all recorded shoplifting offences in London, and 11 of these retailers are already utilizing the brand new retail crime know-how being piloted by the Met.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2196270/police-trial-new-crime-reporting