Retail crime will lead to arrests: GMP launches hard-hitting crackdown with ground-breaking strategy

Greater Manchester Police are hammering home the message that retail crime will not be tolerated, and offenders will face swift consequences.

The Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy is part of a brand-new national campaign to promote the work being done to support businesses. 

It also aims to highlight to the public that retailers and police are working together and sharing information to take action against offenders, and to dispel the myth that retail crime won’t result in an arrest. 

By delivering a consistent message and approach across the board on a national scale, officers in every single force are continuing to arrest criminals, secure charges, and share best practice. 

This includes further work to develop engagement with local businesses and shopping centres through meetings, new arrangements, and information sharing. Police regularly see thousands of shoplifters arrested each year.  

The recent Safe4Summer initiative - which comes as part of the government's Safer Streets scheme - has seen targeted hotspot work in town centres, including Oldham, and in communities across Greater Manchester. 

This has seen thousands of policing hours across every single district tackling issues that affect busy areas - with one of the focuses being on retail crime. 

Superintendent Cara Charlesworth, GMP’s lead for retail crime, said: “Across the force, we have had numerous successes relating to our work tackling retail crime, and we are constantly exploring new ways of working closer with businesses to improve crime prevention and going after criminals who disrupt their trade. 

“Through key dialogue and improved engagement with prevention and local neighbourhood teams, businesses across the entirety of Greater Manchester are able to access expert advice and trade information with local officers on how best to tackle criminality. 

“We are supporting the National Business Crime Centre’s campaign to promote retail crime work and want to remind businesses that we are there for them.” 

Superintendent Lisa Maslen, of the National Business Crime Centre, added: “Retail crime continues to have a significant impact on businesses, staff, and communities across the country. The Tackling Retail Crime Together strategy and campaign is about strengthening the vital partnership between policing and the retail sector to deliver meaningful action. 

“By working collaboratively with local forces, businesses, and partner agencies, we can target offenders, reduce crime, and help ensure that retail spaces remain safe places for everyone.”