Chief Inspector Jackie Knight tells SLR how Police Scotland is taking a multi-pronged approach to retail crime.
Despite the horrific levels of retail crime, a great many retailers feel overlooked by the police to the point where they have become despondent.
Almost every convenience retailer in Scotland (99.5%) suffers shoplifting on a daily basis, but 48% of Scottish retailers said they were either unlikely or very unlikely to report shoplifting incidents to the police, according to figures from the Scottish Grocers’ Federations’ latest Crime Report.
However, the Retail Crime Taskforce, launched by Police Scotland at the end of March as part of a £3m funding allocation from Scottish Government, is eager to turn the tide. SLR talks to the Taskforce’s Chief Inspector Jackie Knight about how work is underway to clamp down on retail crime, make the criminal justice system more efficient, and recultivate retailer relations.
Problem: Lack of faith in the police
Action: Working closely with retailers
“In terms of the mechanisms of the Taskforce, our aims are to tackle retail crime through the utilisation of the four Ps: Prevent, Protect, Prepare and Pursue,” says Chief Inspector Jackie Knight. “Each of those strands will require us to work collaboratively with retailers and by doing so, we’re hoping that we will build the trust and confidence in our approach, therefore increasing the confidence for retailers to report crime.
“We’ve already had extensive positive engagement with Retailers Against Crime, the Scottish Grocers’ Federation and the Federation of Independent Retailers, the British Retail Consortium and the Retail Industry Leaders group. I think there is that understanding that it’s not an issue that police can solve in isolation. We’re confident if we achieve the aims that the Taskforce set out, this will continue to enhance our relationship with the retailers and further build that trust.”
Problem: Reporting a crime takes too long
Action: Creating a direct reporting tool
Knight concedes that reporting a crime can be a laborious task. “If we make reporting crime a cumbersome process then we’re creating the blocker and we understand why people won’t report crimes,” she says. “A key piece of work for us is a direct reporting mechanism, which will absolutely make the process more efficient and make it easier for retailers to report the crimes. There’s been a proof of concept in Fife [using SentrySIS], which has been ongoing for several months prior to the instigation of the task force. Now that we’re in place, a formal evaluation of that proof of concept is underway. And once we complete that, a designated project team will work with the findings of the evaluation to develop options for a direct reporting mechanism on a national scale.”
She claims that the tool needs to work for retailers of all sizes. “We need something that the independent corner shop can use as well as John Lewis – we are committed to ensuring that direct reporting is available to all retailers.”
Problem: Shoplifters are not being reprimanded
Action: More arrests made
As reported on pages 8 and 9, police across the nation have been upping the ante on retail crime with Taskforce officers making 30 arrests in Edinburgh alone since April.
Going forward, retailers will be kept updated on the Taskforce’s progress. “We build trust and confidence by showing our commitment and showing the work that we are undertaking, and I think that’s something we need to do better,” says Knight. “We are looking to introduce a regular bulletin to be shared across the retailer networks highlighting what work the Taskforce is up to.”
Police action on retail crime is also being flagged up on social media with the hashtags #RetailCrimeTaskforce and #NotAVictimlessCrime. “This isn’t just about acquisitive crime, it’s about the abuse and violence that’s subjected to retail workers and the work that we’re going to do to combat that as well,” adds Knight.
Problem: Issues with handling and processing CCTV footage
Action: Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC)
DESC is a £33m Scottish Government initiative for sharing digital evidence from crime scene to courtroom, which is being rolled out across Scotland. “It provides improved service to retailers because they can upload and share CCTV footage directly with police, negating the need to download and then wait for an officer to attend and be there for that appointment,” says Knight. “I think the key benefit of DESC is that it permits CCTV footage to be quickly shared with the police and then on to the prosecutor and then on to the courts, allowing for the case to be resolved more quickly, potentially at first appearance or shortly thereafter. We just want to get the evidence quickly to the court, so early decisions can be made.”
Problem: Delays in judicial proceedings
Action: Front-loading cases initiative
Traditionally, the police report a perpetrator to the Procurator Fiscal Service and then further down the line they are asked to provide statements and CCTV.
But Police Scotland are rolling out a new Case Management Summary Process that aims to resolve cases earlier and secure better outcomes for victims. “Now, we’re providing the report along with the statements and the CCTV in the aim that on day one, when the individual is presented at court, the defence team can see, for example, there is clear CCTV of the crime, so let’s just deal with this today, let’s not wait another two months.”
The initiative was first rolled out on domestic abuse crimes, but it has now expanded within Tayside to include retail crime. “We will keep an eye on that and make sure that the good practice is being replicated speedily across the rest of the country,” says Knight.
Problem: Offender behaviour
Action: Educational and diversion work
“We’re developing a better understanding of the drivers for retail crime and mitigating against them,” says Knight. “We’re developing diversionary programmes and looking to increase our educational output.”
The Taskforce is also trying to change the behaviours of repeat offenders. “In Edinburgh, police have secured funding from the Taskforce for an intervention project where ultimately they identify individuals who are high tariff, recidivist offenders [convicted offenders who reoffend] who perhaps have addiction vulnerabilities as well and they’re working alongside those individuals with key partner stakeholders to try and make sure they’re getting the appropriate support to deter them away from their offending behaviours,” says Knight.
Problem: Organised crime and repeat offenders
Action: Joined-up thinking
Police Scotland is working with retailers and Retailers Against Crime to identify organised crime groups who are committing crimes across the UK. “Using our increased intelligence and analytical capability that we’ve been provided through the Taskforce, we’ll be able to target them,” says Knight. “The analytical and intelligence products on a national scale allow us to look across divisional borders and local policing teams where we can see themes and trends that might not otherwise be picked up. And then we can pick up those and try to bring perpetrators to justice. That analytical intelligence piece will identify the most prolific local offenders. So we’ll be looking to then link in with local policing divisions as well to make sure that they’re the subject of coordinated investigations.”
The Taskforce is also heavily focused on sharing best practice. “There’s lots of really good work ongoing within the local policing teams across Scotland with various retailers and partnerships – a really key thing will be identifying best practices and making sure that’s shared widely across the country for other people to replicate.”
Problem: Lack of police funding and resources
Action: Bids for funding allocations
The Taskforce is allocating funding to local policing teams to conduct joint operations bids specifically looking at retail crime. “We know that geographical areas’ demographics can change the requirements for the police in response, so we’re allowing people in their own divisions to look at what they need to do and then bid in with a request for support funding from the task force to carry out specific activities as long as it’s in line with that 4P strategy.”
For example, an ongoing shoplifting initiative in Glasgow division had a reduced capacity on a Monday, so they devised an operation where they’d have additional resources that day, increasing their capacity to pursue offences.
Problem: Stores need better security
Action: Dedicated officer designing out retail crime
“We’ll be working closely with retailers as we design our architectural liaison products for use in retail outlets across the country as we try to design out crime,” says Knight.
“The Prevent and Protect strand will see our retail specific architectural liaison officer engage with retailers to target hardened premises.”
Smaller retailers will also be supported with enhanced safety and security guidance and personal panic alarms. “We have the bigger stores that perhaps have the luxury of panic buttons and security guards, so there’s a real focus on those independent retailers to try and give them a little bit more support and confidence in terms of our response to them,” she says.
Problem: The Retail Crime Taskforce is only funded for one year
Action: Make lasting changes
“As the funding is provided only for one year as it stands, we have to be realistic about our aims, but we are confident of making good progress in the months ahead,” says Knight.
“We need to ensure that there is longevity in the systems, processes and partnerships that we create. So, if the funding’s removed and certain elements of the task force need to be removed, that the good work is embedded and it will continue.
“We need to work hard to show the impact that can be made with the additional [£3m] funding and hopefully that might deliver additional funding as we move forward.”
