Businesses, Police and PCC unite to fight retail crime in Trowbridge

Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, has stressed the importance of partnership working and intelligence sharing across Wiltshire and Swindon to successfully tackle retail crime, which is costing businesses tens of thousands of pounds a week.

Mr Wilkinson spoke at the inaugural meeting of the Trowbridge Operational Retail Group, which was set up by the Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Trowbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team to give retailers in the town the opportunity to share their experiences of crime and hear about the initiatives being implemented to reduce shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and other crime in and around their stores.

Sgt Charly Chilton gave an overview of retail crime in Trowbridge and talked about the existing measures being taken by the police to combat retail crime and associated offences, such as assaults on shop workers.

Over 4,000 reports of shoplifting were made in the county last year, but the PCC urged retailers to report all instances of crime which took place within their businesses. The PCC recognised that whilst the current system for reporting crime could be made easier for retailers, he also said that alternative reporting systems are being looked at.

Mr Wilkinson said:

“It was good to see representatives from major retailers and their security teams, Wiltshire Council and the Mayor of Trowbridge join senior Wiltshire Police officers and Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce at the meeting.

“I understand the frustrations of our local businesses, which are losing a huge amount of money due to organised crime groups targeting them.

“These criminals make people feel vulnerable in their workplace and there are smaller businesses whose survival is threatened by the increase in their premiums, which can lead to people losing their jobs.

“As I have said in my Police and Crime Plan, by coordinating our efforts to increase security, we will collectively be able to support economic development and make our town and city centres a safer place to work.”

Trowbridge has already benefitted from ASB Hotspot funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which means there are extra police patrols in targeted areas within the town where anti-social behaviour has been identified as a specific issue.

As part of the new Police and Crime Plan, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships are being set up across the county to tackle increases in shoplifting and crimes against retail workers.

Kez Garner is the chair of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce:

“Our business community of independent and national retailers welcome extra support from Wiltshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner to work with our businesses to tackle retail crime. 

“We are urging our businesses to report every single theft, so that the police can see the full extent of the problem.

“We are also urging our businesses to invest in their own CCTV and to join our local radio system, Storenet, to assist with capturing evidence and alerting other retailers when necessary.

“We aim to work together for safer shops and safer streets.” 

The night-time economy (NTE) has also been supported by the funding of NTE Wardens, who patrol the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights.

Chief Inspector James Brain underlined the importance of partnership working:

“The Operational Retail Group meeting held in Trowbridge enabled the police to bring local businesses together to hear and understand some of the retail crime challenges local businesses are facing.

“These meetings will be rolled out in towns across Wiltshire, and any outcomes will feed into our wider strategic Force response to tackling business crime.

“We encourage local businesses to continue working with our neighbourhood officers and report retail crime to the police using official reporting channels.”

 Published Friday 8 November 2024