The UK government has announced a national retail crime strategic delivery plan as part of a concerted effort to tackle the surge in street crime and shop theft which impacts shoppers and businesses.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has commissioned local action plans across England and Wales in collaboration with police, businesses and councils, to address retail crime during the summer of 2025.
The UK will see an enhanced police presence and prevention measures on high streets in response to the plan.
The summer initiatives include real-time mapping for patrols in Humberside, specialist anti-social behaviour lawyers in Devon and Cornwall, a Night Time Economy Charter in Derbyshire, early police visibility in Dyfed-Powys and a new diversionary programme for offenders in Nottinghamshire.
The strategy will consolidate industry and policing data to improve the targeting and response to retail crime, while also involving security companies and local communities in identifying high-risk areas and managing repeat offenders.
This strategy aligns with the government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which provides named, contactable officers in every community from July 2025, increased patrols during peak times and dedicated anti-social behaviour leads in every police force.
Cooper stated: “The fact that 500 towns have signed up shows the strength of feeling on this issue.”
“Through our Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change, we are putting officers back on the beat where you can see them, and making our town centres safe again.”
Following the Home Secretary’s announcement of a national retail crime strategic delivery plan, the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) has launched the Tackling Retail Crime Together campaign.
The campaign, backed by £2m ($2.7m) from the Home Office, is a key part of the delivery plan's implementation strategy.
The Tackling Retail Crime Together strategy will use shared data to disrupt criminal activity, targeting not only organised gangs but also those stealing to support addictions or acting on impulse.
NBCC superintendent Lisa Maslen stated: “By using the campaign and its branding, forces and partner organisations can highlight their efforts and success stories, demonstrating that tackling retail crime together is making a real difference.”
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) joint leads for business and retail crime are Katie Bourne, Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, and Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. In a joint statement, they said: “This strategy is an acknowledgement of the urgent need to focus on tackling unacceptable levels of shop theft and violence against retail workers.
“We are delighted that the success of the Police and Crime Commissioner-led Pegasus partnership of retailers, Home Office and police has been recognised and is being built upon.
“Through the work of Pegasus and policing’s Opal team, a hugely effective, data-led and intelligence-sharing approach has been developed that focuses on organised retail crime gangs with greater police and retailer working at its heart.”
