Met Police joins forces with businesses to continue fight against retail crime

More than 90 wanted offenders have been identified through new information-sharing agreements between the Met and 16 Business Crime Reduction Partnerships and Business Improvement Districts across London.

The agreements allow officers and partners – including street enforcement teams – to share intelligence and view images of wanted people, helping to identify prolific offenders and bring them to justice.

A total of 92 wanted offenders have been identified within the first month of the agreements being signed.

Commander Andrew Featherstone, who leads the Met’s response to business crime, said:

“Retail crime is not a victimless crime. Organised gangs often have links to drugs and violence, and their actions impact businesses, staff and communities. We’re tackling this head-on and have solved more than double the number of shoplifting cases so far this year.

"Through these partnerships, we’ve already seen significant improvements, with more suspects identified and arrested. By sharing intelligence and working together, we’re making London safer for everyone."

Recent results since the agreements were introduced:

• West End: 37 suspects identified – 26 for shoplifting, 3 for burglary, 7 for robbery
  
• North West London: 11 suspects linked to shoplifting, robbery, vehicle crime and assault.
• South East London: 42 suspects identified – 10 for shoplifting, 8 for robbery.

In one case, a violent suspect was identified in connection with a robbery and assault on a security guard at Tesco near Covent Garden.

Dee Corsi, Chief Executive of New West End Company, added:

“As long-term partners of the Met, New West End Company’s Security team has built up a strong working relationship, underpinned by trust and partnership. Intelligence sharing is at the core of this relationship, and our landmark data-sharing agreement allows us to better support the Met’s operations and jointly deliver a safer West End.

"This approach has already delivered some impressive results, and we look forward to working closely with Commander Featherstone and the local policing team to keep up momentum.”

This partnership builds on wider Met operations targeting organised retail crime. Last month, officers carried out the largest-ever crackdown on shoplifting gangs in London, arresting 32 people and seizing thousands of stolen items. Over two days, more than 120 shops suspected of reselling stolen goods were raided, with nine closure notices issued and hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of items recovered.

So far this year, the Met has solved 92 per cent more shoplifting cases, working closely with local businesses to protect retail workers and communities.

The Met is increasing its presence in London’s busiest areas, including the West End, to focus on core priorities such as tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, phone robbery, and violence against women and girls.

Up to 80 additional officers will boost the West End team by over 50 per cent, while six town centre teams in Brixton, Kingston, Ealing, Finsbury Park, Southwark and Spitalfields will be expanded or newly created with 90 extra officers. These moves form part of the Met’s commitment to neighbourhood policing and targeting prolific offenders.