Police officers in Gedling borough are ramping up the pressure on persistent shop thieves by stepping up patrols and working with businesses in a bid to prevent and reduce retail crime and help keep shop staff safe.
A high-visibility operation, involving uniformed officers conducting patrols on foot and in marked police vehicles, was carried out at Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield on Wednesday (29).
During the operation, officers spoke with shop staff and retailers, including B&Q, Boots, B&M, Sports Direct, and JD, to check for issues and give guidance on promptly reporting incidents.
They also spoke with supermarket staff at Tesco and Co-op stores in Carlton and Burton Joyce.
The officers were also on the lookout for known offenders identified through intelligence, to help protect businesses and customers from the harm caused by shop thieves.
Patrols passed without incident, but officers used their relationships with retailers to offer specialist support and promote the Shop Watch radio scheme, which helps businesses and police alert each other to known shoplifters.
It is one part of a comprehensive approach to tackling retail crime by apprehending offenders, supporting victims, and developing strategies to address the root causes of criminality.
Officers have developed a patrol plan, based on intelligence, to coincide with the peak times when criminals are known to operate, which has led to 37 hours of additional patrols.
Academic research from the College of Policing shows that frequent and short patrols are the most effective at reducing crime, with officers spending two hours in the proximity of one location before moving to another area.
Officers taking part in the operation also advised staff about using the software reporting platform Auror, which enables Nottinghamshire Police to take swift action against shoplifters.
The software allows retail staff to directly report incidents in real-time and share key evidence such as CCTV, description, and witness statements.
This more streamlined reporting can allow police to investigate reports more effectively, build stronger cases, and allocate resources in the right place at the right time to help prevent further crimes and target repeat offenders.
The neighbourhood policing team has been conducting weekly patrols as part of Operation Descent, which launched in January 2025.
PCSO Kenan McLaughlin, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We know that working with our partners is key to tackling shoplifting.
“We work closely with national and independent retailers, Gedling Borough Council, and CCTV operators as part of our comprehensive approach to educate businesses and arrest prolific offenders.
“One of the main tools available to us is the use of criminal behaviour orders, which are applied for following a criminal conviction.
“These orders can have positive requirements for an offender to attend rehabilitation, or they can prohibit an individual from a particular area or premises to reduce their pattern of offending.
“If criminals who are subject to these orders don’t adhere to them and breach any restrictions, then they are liable for arrest and more robust enforcement action, which can include up to two years in prison.
“Three of our most prolific offenders are currently subject to criminal behaviour orders, and they have proved an effective deterrent to prevent reoffending.
“We know the costly impact shoplifting can have not just on businesses, but their customers and our wider communities too.
“By working together, we can build a clearer picture of offending and develop strategies to target those causing harm while also supporting retail staff.
“I would like to reassure our local retailers that we will continue to proactively target shoplifters and continue to offer our support to deter and reduce this criminality.
“Retail crime is not victimless, and if persistent offenders choose not to engage with support services, then we will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action.”
