The reckoning has come for shoplifters in London
Key Points
- Shoplifters in London are being rounded up in record numbers thanks to new tech deployed by the Metropolitan Police.
- The technology allows retailers to submit footage and other evidence directly to police, letting them quickly track down and detain offenders.
- The number of shoplifters in London being brought to justice has quadrupled where this new technology has been deployed.
- The Met is rolling out this technology to more boroughs in the capital following its success.
Shoplifters across London are being rounded up in record numbers after new technology has rolled out to stores in the capital.
According to new data from the Metropolitan Police, the number of shoplifters being brought to justice in London has quadrupled since the introduction of new technology to help protect retailers.
This technology allows retailers to submit CCTV footage, witness statements, and any other related evidence directly to Met officers, allowing them to far more quickly build cases against offender.
Whereas police officers previously had to wait for up to 28 days to obtain CCTV evidence and statements, they are now able to access this in minutes, making it far easier to track and arrest offenders.
The technology is being used today by major retail stores in London, including Tesco, Boots, M&S, and Greggs, and figures show that where it is used, shoplifters are cautioned or charged in 29.4% of cases.
This is a significant increase from before this technology was introduced, when an average of just 7.3% of offenders were brought to justice.
Where this anti-shoplifting tech is being rolled out
Currently, the new crime reporting platform is being used by retailers in the following boroughs:
- Westminster
- Kensington & Chelsea
- Hammersmith & Fulham
- Lewisham
- Greenwich
- Bexley
Now that it has proven to be such a massive success in bringing shoplifters to justice, the Met will begin rolling it out to more boroughs across London, including:
- Southwark
- Lambeth
- Sutton
- Croydon
- Bromley
- Hillingdon
- Ealing
- Hounslow
The Met has noted that reported shoplifting offences in London have fallen by 3.7% this year, and that over the same period it has made almost 50% more arrests.
“Shoplifters should be under no illusion – we are increasing our capability to catch you and put you before the courts,” said Met Chief Inspector Rav Pathania.
“Tackling retail crime remains a top priority for the Met. Reported shoplifting offences across London are down by almost four per cent, but we’re not taking our foot off the pedal as evidenced by this continued use of new tech.”
“The results speak for themselves. This crime reporting technology is helping us identify offenders faster and bring more shoplifters to justice,” he said.
