The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

IN FOCUS: Tackling Business and Retail Crime

07 Mar 2025

Community policing

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Overview

Retail and business crime is at an all-time high, with increasing incidents of shoplifting, abuse, and organized crime affecting businesses across the UK. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) play a crucial role in tackling these issues by collaborating with retailers, police forces, and local communities.

This APCC In Focus report highlights national and local initiatives led by PCCs to combat retail crime, improve reporting, and enhance police response. It showcases innovative approaches such as forensic tagging, data-sharing platforms, intelligence-led policing, and community partnerships aimed at making high streets safer for businesses and consumers alike.

Key Themes

  • Retail Crime Action Plan – A national framework for police responses to shoplifting and retail-related crime.
  • Technology & Intelligence – Use of facial recognition, digital evidence management, and AI-based monitoring to identify prolific offenders.
  • Partnerships & Local Initiatives – Police forces collaborating with businesses through Safer Business Partnerships, Crime Reduction Units, and data-sharing platforms (DISC, Pegasus, etc.).
  • Victim Support & Legal Measures – Advocacy for stronger protections for shopworkers, tougher sentencing for offenders, and innovative offender rehabilitation programs.

Highlights

  • Sussex (Safer Sussex Business Partnership) – Improved police reporting and intelligence sharing with businesses, plus the Pegasus initiative to tackle organized retail crime.
  • West Yorkshire (Forensic ‘SmartTag’ Technology) – Use of forensic marking sprays to deter and track offenders.
  • London (MOPAC’s Facial Recognition & Retail Harm Reduction Partnership) – AI-assisted identification of repeat offenders and enhanced collaboration between the police and retailers.
  • Greater Manchester (Retail Crime Strategy) – A multi-agency plan focusing on prevention, enforcement, and victim protection.
  • Bedfordshire (Operation Belleville) – Targeting the top 10 most prolific shoplifters through intelligence-led policing.
  • Merseyside (Reinvesting Seized Criminal Assets) – Using proceeds of crime to fund business protection initiatives and cyber resilience programs