Retail Crime on the Rise; Private Police Successfully Prosecute Shoplifters
The police lacks resources to effectively deal with retail crime, according to the founder of a private investigation company operating in London.
A private police force has reported a 100 percent conviction rate in prosecution of 300 shoplifting cases, amid a rise in retail theft in England and Wales.
Shoplifting offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales have gone up by a quarter in the past year.
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But according to former Met Police detective and founder of private investigators TM Eye, David McKelvey, the police lacks resources to effectively deal with retail crime.
TM Eye operates in 19 retail and business districts in central and outer London. According to the company, when they receive an alert of theft, its officers get to the scene within minutes.
“Our conviction rate is 100 percent because the evidence is put together by experienced detectives and reviewed independently by very experienced solicitors,” said Mr. McKelvey.
He added that having experienced counsel focused on the victim of shoplifting contrasts with instances in which a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer is loaded with dozens of additional cases.
Smarter Approach
The government called the rise in retail crime “unacceptable” and promised to take a “smarter” approach in rebuilding the public confidence in the police.
After meeting with senior police leaders and retail businesses on Monday, policing minister Chris Philp outlined the government’s action plan.
Under the plan, police will prioritise shoplifting incidents that involve violence against shop workers.
Cases where shop security staff detain an offender or where police are needed to secure evidence will also be considered urgent.
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