NBCC responds to House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee Inquiry

The Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee has concluded a short inquiry into shop theft. The Committee found that shop theft is an underreported crime that is not being effectively tackled, leading to a devastating impact on the retail sector and the wider economy.

In a letter to the Minister for Policing, Crime and Fire Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson MP, they have recommended  a range of measures to deal with the epidemic of shop theft facing retailers.

There are 15 recommendations set out in the report from the Lords Committee, including:

·       Phasing out the use of the word ‘shoplifting’ which trivialises a serious, often organised crime that has a devastating effect on the retail sector

·       Prioritising community-based interventions aimed at reducing reoffending and rehabilitation

·       The development of improved reporting systems to expedite the process of reporting crimes

·       Continuing the Home Office’s funding for Pegasus for at least a second year

In response to the report and recommendations NBCC lead Supt Patrick Holdaway said: “The NBCC welcomes the findings and recommendations from the Justice and Home Affairs Committee to tackle shop theft. The NBCC has for a long time used shop theft in its comms recognising that the term shoplifting risks trivialising the impact of shop theft, which often involves violence, abuse and intimidation.

“We have also argued that improved recording of shop theft offences will provide police and partners with a better understanding of the scale of the problem and where their focus needs to be.

“The NBCC has worked with forces and retailers to encourage the use of Digital Evidence Management Systems (DEMS) to share evidence with police and help investigations to progress at speed. We also worked with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police forces to develop a standard witness statement which retailers can use when submitting CCTV evidence to the police using a Digital Evidence Management Systems (DEMS). Any improvements in intelligence sharing, recording, reporting and evidence capture will undoubtedly support police and partners in tackling shop theft more effectively.

“Recognising the important role BCRPs play in tackling local crime issues, the NBCC commissioned a report into the BCRP accreditation scheme. The findings of this report has led to a redesign of the scheme, which will launch early in 2025”

The full letter and report can be read here: Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee