Met chief calls on retailers to do more as staff accused of helping shoplifters

"Sir Mark Rowley said there was evidence of store employees tipping off thieves about when it was safe to strike, while other retailers refused to hand over CCTV footage or photos of criminals caught red-handed. He alleged some stores would not allow staff time off to attend court or provide statements to police. In the year to June, retail crime surged by 13 per cent, reaching 529,994 recorded offences, according to the Office for National Statistics."

""The retail sector, a couple of years ago, was right to be cross with policing across the country," he told The Telegraph. "But in London, over the last year or so, we've really doubled down on it. We're making a lot of progress, but I need to challenge back now to the retail sector. "They now need to do better.""

"Shoplifting dropped by four per cent between April and December, the Police Commissioner claimed, with the help of facial recognition technology. Sir Mark, a long-time supporter of the technology, said that in 40 per cent of incidents the force was able to identify a criminal against databases of previous offenders. Fines, charges and sanctions for shoplifting also rose by 82 per cent."

Evidence exists of store employees tipping off thieves about when it is safe to strike. Some retailers refuse to hand over CCTV footage or photos of criminals, and some will not allow staff time off to attend court or provide statements. Retail crime rose 13% in the year to June to 529,994 recorded offences. Certain political observers accused Britain of becoming a 'soft touch for criminals'. London policing intensified enforcement with facial recognition, contributing to a 4% drop in shoplifting between April and December and identification in 40% of incidents. Fines, charges and sanctions increased 82%, yet only 9% of shoplifting cases ended in charges.

Read at www.standard.co.uk