Concerted approach to retail crime in Liverpool in 2014 produces results

Following a significant increase in retail robbery in north Liverpool, frequently involving knives and guns, Merseyside Police launched an innovative operation in 2014 that continues today to counter this crime.

Detailed analysis and activity, as prescribed by the problem-solving triangle approach, focused attention on the locations, victims and offenders concerned.

The resulting operation, including traditional police detective work, a creative media campaign and involvement across the community, led to significant decreases, in some locations by over 50%, demonstrating that a concerted approach can make a big impact on retail crime.

Location, location, location

The detailed analysis carried out initially identified two hotspots for retail crime in Liverpool, covering four streets, with fifty-six repeat locations. Large amounts of cash were stolen and cigarettes were a particular target. This was a crime worth committing.

Understanding the offenders

To fully understand the reasons for offenders carrying out retail crime, the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) funded academic research involving interviews with offenders in prison. Two key findings helped inform the operation: make it more difficult for these types of crimes to be committed and make the rewards less attractive.

Victims

Merseyside Police visited potential target premises, such as convenience stores with an off licence, bookmakers, banks, pubs, garages, post offices and beauty/tanning shops. Each premises was individually assessed to ensure the right crime prevention advice and equipment was supplied. Officers advised the premises owners on how to properly protect themselves: crucially, to keep less cash on the premises and where cash was kept, to make effective use of cash boxes.

Police Action

Using the intelligence provided by the analysis and research, Merseyside Police carried out a range of actions to clear up outstanding retail crimes and to prevent any further ones occurring. These targeted actions included:

• Dedicated police resources, especially over the Christmas period, with a dedicated chief inspector and detective inspector ensured retail crime had a real focus. Special constables, volunteers and PCSOs played an important role.
• A day of action on outstanding warrants – a high profile media event where warrants were executed right across the force to let robbery offenders and their associates know that the police were coming after them.
• Target hardening kits were provided for vulnerable premises: DNA kits – consisting of a DNA spray that is activated when an offender leaves the premises, spraying an invisible DNA spray onto their body and clothing that will link them back to the crime scene if they are caught. Smoke cloak systems – these activate when a break-in occurs, filling the protected area with an impenetrable cloud of fog. This provides an effective barrier and forces the intruders to leave.
• Stay safe alarms – enabling staff to activate a high-pitched alarm  from a small hand-held device, if feeling threatened.
• Lone worker alarms – enabling lone workers to raise the alarm at a 24/7 incident management centre, by the press of a button on a small device.
• Tracking devices – these can be placed within high value items, such as HiFi equipment, bikes and cigarettes and if these items are stolen, the device can be activated. This can aid recovery of the valuables and apprehension of the offenders.

Media Strategy to tackle Retail Crime in Liverpool

Alongside these activities, Merseyside Police developed a powerful media strategy with the key objectives of demonstrating that they take the issue of retail crime seriously and will take tough measures to combat it and to encourage members of the public to support their efforts and come forward with any related intelligence.

This innovative internal and external communications strategy included signage, posters, leaflets and a large marketing campaign of billboards and adshels.

Within the premises that had been identified as vulnerable, numerous warning posters, signs and stickers were displayed. Some of the key messages sent out during the operation:

• Forensic marking and other target hardening devices are placed in shops and homes in the area.
• Stolen goods can be traced and the offenders will be caught.
• Merseyside police is committed to reducing business robbery and domestic burglary.

Partnership working

This operation involved not only Merseyside Police and its PCC, but surrounding police forces, the Chamber of Commerce and Crimestoppers.

Partnership involvement included training on the operation for magistrates: they were briefed on the kit and how it works, so when the forensic spray or smoke cloak device was referred to in a statement they understood what it meant.

Results

An overall reduction in business robbery, especially in main risk premises of bookmakers and convenience stores with an off licence, with a significant reduction in armed robberies.

How will it be maintained?

Merseyside Police aims to maintain these results with a dedicated Crime Prevention Officer who visits every premises subject to a business robbery and completes  a security assessment. Additionally, information is shared daily through industry sector groups such as banks and bookmakers throughout Merseyside, with quarterly meetings to share good practice.  Work will continue with the Gambling Commission and Environmental Health authorities to ensure an ongoing, joined-up approach to preventing crime.

Superintendent Jenny Sims

Merseyside Police