Police in Dorset have been successful in targeting a relatively small number of ‘professional’ shoplifters.
The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick has described growing incidents of thefts from shops as “a blight on our society – a blight on our high streets.”
The Commissioner says that an operation which started in November 2023 focusing on prolific and high harm offenders has targeted 32 individuals who have been charged with 604 offences of shoplifting.
Mr Sidgwick says the information police have gathered appears to have resulted in tougher sentencing from the courts.
He says that the number of high profile/high harm shoplifters operating in the county has fallen by 50 per cent as a result of the operation, although he acknowledges that shoplifting is often under-reported.
“What we do know is that where it is reported Dorset Police has taken action with a positive outcome rate, which is fantastic… I want that to keep going and I want a clear message to go out to shoplifters that Dorset Police will take action,” he said.
The Police and Crime Commissioner says that as part of ongoing action the Dorset Safer Business Partnership, which he started two years ago, is to be improved and widened with greater involvement from more retail chain stores.
Latest crime figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal shoplifting cases in Dorset rose by 19.2 per cent in the 12 months to June.