Dorset Police is supporting Safer Business Action Week

According to a Freedom of Information request, close to 5,000 shoplifting offences have taken place in Dorset over the past year, which is the highest it has been in the last five years. 

It comes as Dorset Police take part in a week of action focusing on retail crime as part of Safer Business Action Week.

Leanne English owns Coastal Vibes and Weymouth Gifts and Party Supplies on the Esplanade.

Speaking candidly, Mrs English said that she has had to ‘let shoplifters nick’ items, as chasing thieves has caused issues in the past.

Leanne English of Coastal Vibes and Weymouth Gifts and Party Supply (Image: Alfie Lumb) She said: “It’s hard for me and it’s a sad thing. Once I chased a shoplifter and they regrouped with a friend and I had to back down or something could have happened to me.

“We’re mainly all female staff, so for our own safety we can’t do much about it.

“The BID ranger patrols keep them away, and I am constantly watching the CCTV but I’m seeing it all the time."

Danny Luong of Baan 57 on St Alban Street said the shop was visited this week by a uniformed officer for the first time in the three and a half years that he’s worked there. He thinks more needs to be done.

He said: “Nothing is done with shoplifters. In three and a half years I’ve not seen one prosecution.”

Danny Luong and Barry Coleman of Baan 57 (Image: Alfie Lumb) Barry Coleman, also of Baan 57, said: “This street is rammed in August and shoplifting rises in the summer.

“We all know the police are under stress, and we’ve been to meetings before, but one of the biggest criticisms I have is that, when you report a crime, you have to keep reporting it to make it a ‘hotspot’ and you get sent a theft pack- now it takes around 90 minutes to fill out a form for a loss of £20.

“It’s frustrating as there are no resources available bar support from the BID rangers.”

Alex Winmill, a business owner in Weymouth for the past 10 years, said there is a ‘massive problem’ with shoplifting. He said: “More of a police presence and an actual punishment or education on the topic might be helpful.”

Meanwhile, Steve Bulley, president of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce (pictured below) said: "Businesses are often seen as soft targets and the assumption that the police don’t have the resources to cover low level crime has sent the wrong message. 

"Our members believe that being tougher on shop theft would be a good start and welcome any initiatives to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in our county town."

Safer Business Action Week is running until Sunday, October 20.

Police say this will include partnership meetings with Business Improvement Districts, crime prevention visits to shops, increased patrols in hotspot areas to look for shoplifters and engagement with businesses to encourage and provide support with reporting incidents.

Business and retail crime can encompass a wide variety of matters from theft and burglary, to cyber crime or abuse and violence directed at staff.

Inspector Dan Cullen, of Dorset Police, said: “This week of action is a great opportunity for us to engage with businesses in our community and show our commitment to reducing retail crime.

“While this week marks a specific enhanced response, it is important to note that this type of activity is taking place all year round and officers are working every day to tackle issues facing businesses and their customers.

“We would encourage members of the business community to make contact with officers if they want advice or have a question.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset David Sidwick said: “I know the impact these crimes not only have on a company’s bottom line, but on staff and communities targeted. It was one of the reasons I stood for this role originally.

“Both locally and nationally, shoplifting is on the rise and thorough analysis of the issue in Dorset shows that a small core of prolific offenders commit the bulk of retail crime, with each offender being responsible for numerous shoplifting offences. Thanks to making it a priority in the police and crime plan, Dorset Police now has a strategic plan, a tactical plan and operations in place to address this.

"Operation Shopkeeper has targeted 32 prolific offenders who have been charged with 604 offences between them since November 2023. In that time, the number of high harm suspects has decreased by 50 per cent due to this enhanced focus on prolific offending.

“We have done lots to tackle shoplifting in Dorset since 2021. I set up the Dorset Safer Business Partnership to bring my office, Dorset Police, local business representatives and retailers together to fight business crime. The work of this partnership focuses on key areas of crime prevention, reporting, engagement and visibility, cyber-crime and fraud.

“Dorset also has two Business Crime Reduction Partnerships who efficiently gather and share intelligence among shops and pass that information onto Dorset Police. Fighting shoplifting requires collaboration and that is what we now have here."

Dorset Police can carry out crime prevention surveys on commercial properties. For more information email crimereductionwest@dorset.pnn.police.uk. For further help and advice on business safety see www.dorset.police.uk/business