WILTSHIRE Police has put retail crime in the spotlight as it looks launch Safer Business Action Week.

Police officers from across Wiltshire and Swindon have carried out additional high-visibility and plain clothes patrols of Wiltshire’s high streets.

The aim is to deter retail crime from taking place in support of Safer Business Action Week, a week of action led by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC).

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Superintendent for Local Policing Doug Downing said: "Whilst the 11 per cent decrease in reports of shoplifting offences to Wiltshire Police is positive, we recognise this crime is underreported.

"We encourage retailers to work with us by reporting all instances of shoplifting, no matter the value of the items.

"It is vital retail crimes are reported to Wiltshire Police so that all leads can be investigated and loss to businesses in our county can be prevented."

Neighbourhood teams across the county have visited over 225 retailers to deliver retail crime prevention advice.

The number of shoplifting offences reported to Wiltshire Police have decreased by 11 per cent in the past year.

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Over the past twelve months, from September 2023 to September 2024, Wiltshire Police received reports of just under 3,400 shoplifting instances.

Retailers have been encouraged to sign up to Shop Watch and Business Watch schemes in their local area.

Superintendent Downing continued: "Our neighbourhood policing teams will continue to work alongside partner agencies to be a visible presence in our town and city centres to prevent retail crime from taking place.

"We continue to encourage retailers to report all instances of shoplifting to the police using our official reporting channels."

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has provided funding for upgraded CCTV cameras in Chippenham and Swindon, and four mobile CCTV units in Salisbury.

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As well as anti-social behaviour wardens in Salisbury, funding was also provided to Swindon Borough Council to employ anti-social behaviour wardens in the town centre and in areas where anti-social behaviour has been identified as a particular issue.

Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson has placed a renewed focus on retail crime in the first draft of his Police and Crime Plan for 2025-2029.

Mr Wilkinson said: “I have spoken to shop managers and small to medium business owners, who have made it clear to me that they want to something done about the criminals who are having a profound effect on their ability to survive in the current financial climate.

“It is also clear that people who work in retail should feel they can go into work without the fear of being assaulted or abused."