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12
Dec
Figures reveal how few shoplifting incidents police attend in North Yorkshire
New figures have revealed a sharp increase in shoplifting in North Yorkshire — and a major decrease in how often police attend such incidents.
According to data published following a freedom of information request, the number of recorded shoplifting incidents in the county has almost doubled in the last three years.
North Yorkshire Police released figures on how many shoplifting offences were recorded annually between January 1, 2021, and October 28, 2024.
It also disclosed how many times police attended shoplifting offences. Here is the data.
The number of shoplifting offences recorded.
Police attendance figures.
Just 906 of the 4,607 shoplifting offences across the county until October this year were attended by officers.
This compares with officers attending 1,838 of the 2,949 offences reported in 2021.
This means police are only attending one in 5.1 incidents now compared with one in every 1.6 incidents in 2021. In other words, no police attend four out of five reported shoplifting cases.
Retailers are more likely to receive a retail crime pack and be invited to upload details of the incident online for the police to look into.
Arrests up
The number of arrests made for shop thefts did increase over the period. This information was also shared in response to the FOI request.
The number of arrests made.
'Notable increase in reports and arrests'
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police why the force’s attendance dropped despite the number of recorded offences increasing.
Chief inspector Ryan Chapman, the force's lead for retail crime, said the force had "placed a significant focus on addressing retail crime" in recent years, which had led to the increase in the number of reports and arrests.
He added:
The rise in reporting aligns with a national trend, and we expect this upward trajectory to continue as businesses gain greater confidence in reporting these crimes.
Each command within North Yorkshire Police now has dedicated retail crime officers, resulting in higher arrest rates and a marked improvement in positive outcomes. When it comes to attending retail crime incidents, North Yorkshire Police follows national guidelines, ensuring we attend all cases where a suspect has been detained or violence has been involved.
For other incidents, businesses receive a retail crime pack, and our initial enquiry team takes the lead in progressing investigations, working closely with our retail crime officers to ensure thorough follow-up.
Chf insp Chapman also said the force recently introduced NICE Investigate, a system that allows retailers to upload CCTV footage directly. This helps to streamline evidence collection.
He added:
Looking ahead, we are looking to develop a single online reporting system for retail crime, aiming to simplify the process further and enhance support for businesses. This piece of work is being led by the National Police Chiefs' Council. Our commitment to tackling retail crime continues to strengthen, ensuring a safer environment for businesses across our county.
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