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21
Dec 2024
More needs to be done to tackle shoplifting, Harrogate business leader says
A Harrogate business organisation has responded to the sharp increase in shoplifting offences across the county – and police’s decreasing attendance.
Harrogate Business Improvement District has called for a council-led partnership and a greater police presence to tackle such offences.
Following a freedom of information request to North Yorkshire Police, the force released data which showed the number of recorded shoplifting offences in the county has almost doubled between 2021 and 2024.
Police also shared the number of times they attended shoplifting incidents, which has gone down despite the growing number of offences.
You can see the data below.
The number of shoplifting offences recorded.
Police attendance figures.
The force previously told the Stray Ferret it has placed a significant focus on addressing retail crime, yet retailers are more likely to receive a retail crime pack and be invited to upload details of the incident online for police to look into.
We put this to Harrogate BID, which works to increase footfall and develop the town centre’s offering.
Matthew Chapman, chief executive of the BID, told the Stray Ferret:
During the consultation for our second term in Harrogate, BID members in the retail sector told us that shoplifting and threats to staff were some of their biggest challenges.
In the short term, we committed to introducing the town centre support officer role to act as an additional uniformed presence, encourage reporting of crime, gather evidence and improve communication between key organisations.
Mr Chapman also said the town needs a more proactive business crime reduction partnership a collaborative approach to preventing crime, led by North Yorkshire Council.
He added:
[We need] targeted and meaningful campaigns set in advance, more police officers on the ground and to explore additional acts including a Public Space Protection Order - recently approved in Scarborough but not yet in Harrogate.
Collaboration from all is needed to challenge this ongoing issue.
Police 'expect upward trajectory to continue'
Despite the decline in police attendance, the number of arrests was up. Click here to view the arrest figures.
Chief inspector Ryan Chapman, the force’s lead for retail crime, told the Stray Ferret last week:
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.
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 said.
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