Retailers encouraged to sign up to South Yorkshire Business Crime Charter

Retail crime has become an increasing problem in recent years, and we have made great strides in tackling this issue by targeting prolific offenders and creating dedicated retail crime teams with specific knowledge on shoplifters and their patterns of offending.

It is a complex scenario, with the rising cost of living, staffless models in shops and reduced prison capacities all having an impact, and we know that increasingly more and more thieves are threatening and abusing retail staff.

They play a vital role in society and it is not part of their job to be treated like this.

In South Yorkshire, retailers, retail centres, police and other key partners have come together to do more and have jointly committed to our Business Crime Charter.

This is where we jointly work better to reduce the opportunities for crime and take more robust action when crime does take place, while also improving the efficiencies of our processes and supporting staff who are abused or attacked in the workplace.

Major shopping centres across the county have signed up to the Charter alongside some of the country's biggest retailers, with local partnership groups also forming in areas across South Yorkshire.

Now, we want to expand this network by encouraging more businesses to sign up to the Charter so that more stakeholders can come together and take action.

Inspector Kay Fitzgerald, who is our force lead for retail crime, said:

“This Charter will allow us to develop a robust partnership approach to tackling shoplifting and cracking down on retail crime.

"As a force, we do not accept that retail crime is victimless or acceptable. It is not - and we are determined to go after the thieves carrying out these despicable crimes.

"We will prioritise cases where staff are abused, threatened or assaulted and we remain committed to working with those involved in the industry so they can better protect their goods and support their colleagues in their day-to-day roles.

“We know that we are stronger when we work together, and we want to make our cities, towns and villages safe and welcoming places for people to live, work, visit and shop.

“A joined-up approach bringing together an extensive network of stakeholders will allow us to share information and intelligence on known offenders, while also offering support to vulnerable people in communities across South Yorkshire.

“We will also commit to further investing in Business Crime Reduction Partnership groups in each of the four districts in South Yorkshire, which see South Yorkshire Police, local authorities and business owners work together as part of a joint commitment to tackle retail crime.

“We remain committed as a force to combatting retail crime and this Charter will only strengthen our position in ensuring shoplifters are dealt with by the full force of the law.”

If you own a business in South Yorkshire and are interested in signing up to the South Yorkshire Business Crime Charter, please email: [email protected].