PCC funded app leads battle against retail crime

A crime reporting app trialled in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to tackle shoplifting, has become the top business crime reduction partnership in the UK.

Launched last year by Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, the UKPAC application has seen 626 crimes identified, 181 individuals charged and 62 years’ worth of custodial sentences handed out in the year since it was introduced.

UKPAC has also directly led to 22 Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) being issued to prolific offenders. With an outcome rate of 58% of cases seeing formal action taken (FAT rate) this sits well above the Force average of 36% and it is now being taken up across the country.

Funded by Donna Jones last year to provide 12 months of free membership in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, there have been more than 1,500 companies who have engaged with UKPAC and almost 3,000 individual users.

Donna Jones said: “UKPAC has proven to be a vital tool in tackling the scourge of shoplifting in our towns and cities.

“It has helped us send a clear message, that we will not tolerate this crime and we are doing something proactive to help reduce it.

“In the last year we have seen prolific offenders caught and sentenced to time in prison, while the issuing of 22 Criminal Behaviour Orders helps police to manage the threat others may have posed.

“I would encourage retailers and Business Improvement Districts to sign up to UKPAC and take the initiative in tackling retail crime.”

Shop staff can quickly and easily report incidents and upload CCTV easily through a mobile device, reducing the need for police visits, which in turn has saved more than 2,534 hours of police time from paperwork to be on the frontline more.

The connection between retailers and police improves information sharing and assists both shopkeepers and officers to target risk and improve patrols.

10 forces across the UK have now signed up for UKPAC, following on from the success in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Superintendent Marcus Cator, Business Crime Lead for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, said: “UKPAC has transformed the way we tackle retail crime, and the results speak for themselves.

“Hundreds of offenders identified, significant custodial sentences secured, Criminal Behaviour Orders obtained against prolific offenders and, most importantly, a much stronger partnership between policing and the business community.

“What began as an ambitious local initiative has quickly become recognised as a national model of good practice, with forces across the country now adopting the platform.

“By removing barriers to reporting and improving the quality of evidence submitted, we have increased opportunities to bring offenders to justice whilst freeing officers to spend more time protecting our communities.

“The strength and commitment shown by retailers, businesses, neighbourhood policing teams and our PCC highlight how business crime is not a victimless crime, and that by working collectively we can deliver real consequences for offenders and safer town centres for everyone.”

UKPAC is free for charities, and the 12-month free membership offer from Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, remains open to retail businesses in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight until the end of November.

For more details or to sign up go to www.uk-pac.com