Police-led day of action targets city shoplifters and antisocial behaviour

DEVON and Cornwall Police took to the streets of Cornwall’s capital city to address concerns about shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.

Members of Truro’s neighbourhood policing team staged a highprofile safer business action day last month to reassure traders that criminal activity would not be tolerated.

They were joined by partner agencies, including Cornwall Council, Safer Cornwall, Truro City Council, Young People Cornwall, Cornwall Fire and Rescue, Shopwatch and Truro Business Improvement District (BID), to form a united front against bad behaviour which is impacting trade.

PC Richie Wilson said: “The safer business action day was a success, and we achieved some positive results. It is hugely beneficial for the police to work alongside partner agencies to tackle local issues, and to understand a rounded view of how we can best target our resources to make Truro an even safer place to live and work.”

The neighbourhood policing team has been working with Truro retailers to understand what issues are negatively impacting their businesses. Shoplifting and antisocial behaviour have been identified as two key issues within the city, and there have been increased reports of instances of both by retailers.

Officers have also been told from members of the public that both shoplifting and antisocial behaviour are causing some local people to no longer enjoy spending time in the city centre.

Nationally, there is an increased focus on retail crime, due to a significant growth in shoplifting, violence against retail staff, and increased organised crime.

To support this, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) has recently released a retail crime action plan, and the Truro policing team have set shoplifting and antisocial behaviour as two key priorities for the team to tackle.

During the day of action, plainclothed officers were deployed into specific premises in the city to provide guidance and reassurance to shops that have reported frequent and ongoing shoplifting, which has been affecting the safety of their staff.

Officers from the neighbourhood team carried out high visibility patrols in the city centre, visiting multiple local businesses to meet with staff, which provided them with an opportunity to raise any concerns with the police.

In addition, CCTV from different businesses was monitored, and businesses were active on

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It is hugely beneficial for the police to work alongside partner agencies to tackle local issues, and to understand a rounded view of how we can best target our resources to make Truro an even safer place to live and work

Shopwatch radios.

The Shopwatch initiative supports retailers in Truro to work together with partner agencies such as Truro BID and the police to address crimes that are affecting Truro’s businesses, including antisocial behaviour.

Truro-based antisocial behaviour officer Steve Lennon also joined the Truro Rangers to carry out their usual activities, which includes patrolling the city centre to provide reassurance to retailers and deter criminals from attempting retail crime.

PC Wilson added: “On behalf of Truro neighbourhood policing team, I would like to thank all of the retailers, partner agencies and individuals who supported the safer business action day, escpecially our volunteers.”

PC Richie Wilson, Devon and Cornwall Police

6Truro-based antisocial behaviour officer Steve Lennon also joined the Truro Rangers to patrol the city centre area