Charges in over 800 shoplifting cases as Surrey Police tackles retail crime

Retail crime is not fair on the businesses it impacts, the victims left terrified and fearful in their workplace and the communities left feeling unsafe in town centres they should be able to enjoy.  

That is why tackling retail crime is a Force priority for Surrey Police.  

From shop owners who have spent years building up their independent business, to a 16-year-old working a Saturday shift at a local store, the breadth of those who can be affected by criminals out to target retail premises is vast.  

Our commitment to addressing this crime type is part of our refreshed retail crime strategy here, in which we endeavour to respond appropriately, investigate thoroughly and work with retailers to prevent crime where possible. 

In the past year, our Force has achieved a four-fold increase in the number of charges for shoplifting county-wide, amounting to more than 800 cases. 

Our arrest rate for these crimes has more than doubled - from around 10% previously to around 24% this year. While our solved outcome rate is currently 23.5%. This time last year, it was around 16% and the year previous, it was around 11%.     

Our renewed retail crime strategy will help us continue to build on this progress and make it clear to criminals that Surrey is not the place for them. 

Surrey Police Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: “Retail crime is far from a ‘victimless crime’. It leads to fear and loss across a whole network from business owners to employees and customers – who are all part of a community we are here to protect.  

“We are committed to tackling retail crime head on, relentlessly pursuing those who steal from shops. To do so, we rely on thefts being reported so that we can identify hotspots and trends, act swiftly, and prevent crime from happening and catch the offenders where it does occur.   

“Pursuing all appropriate avenues to identify offenders, collect evidence, recover stolen property, ensure witnesses are located and interviewed, and get these crimes to court, is a priority for our officers.”  

You can watch more from our Chief Constable here. 

Talking about the refreshed plan, Chief Superintendent Juliet Parker, Force lead for retail crime, added: “Our strategy sets out clear guidelines for our response to retail crime and our local teams are embedding this in their operational work. 

“Retail crime is simply not fair. It can be volatile, dangerous and fuels local illicit activities. Through clear co-operation and partnership working, the figures can be improved. We have made positive strides in this area, but there is more to do.” 

Locally, our neighbourhood policing teams visit retailers during proactive patrols, identifying repeat locations and suspects. We also carry out intensified and targeted activity against shoplifting, providing additional advice and reassurance to communities, and working with businesses to review their security measures.  

In March, we also launched a joint retail crime survey with Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, asking those who have been affected by retail crime to speak up about the impact it has had on them and how our service to the business community can be improved. Findings from this important survey will be incorporated in our work going forward.  

The Commissioner said: “I know from speaking to shop owners and staff, and reading the responses to our survey, that retail crime continues to have a significant impact across our county. 

“We have seen impressive progress over the last year in tackling this issue but there is clearly more to do.  

“That is why I am delighted that this new strategy will help our police teams work more closely with our retailers and target offenders, so we can drive this criminality out of our communities in Surrey.”  

We know that retail crime often goes unreported. We encourage businesses to always report crimes to us via our reporting tools found on the Surrey Police website. Our dedicated Suspicious Activity Portal can also be used to upload any digital media – the portal is not a reporting tool but helps us to build a vital picture of intelligence.