Police launch innovative business crime reduction tool in North Devon

Businesses across Barnstaple are being encouraged to sign up to a free tool to tackle retail crime as part of a year-long project which launched this summer.

The UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) Business Crime Reduction Solution is an online portal that enables businesses to easily report crimes and share intelligence.

A free 12-month subscription to the UKPAC system is being offered to traders in and around Barnstaple in a bid to tackle repeat offenders and reduce crime.

The initiative is a multi-agency project being delivered by Devon & Cornwall Police in partnership with North Devon District Council, and has been funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Inspector Andy Wills, who heads up the Barnstaple Policing team, said: “The UKPAC system is being introduced as part of a multi-agency project which will empower our community to work together and help our officers tackle antisocial behaviour and improve community safety in the town.

“Information and intelligence provided to us using this new system will be key for officers collating evidence and will help us to achieve better outcomes, more quickly.

“I hope that our commitment to this project sends a clear message that we are committed to tackling crime against businesses in Barnstaple and offenders will be dealt with robustly.”

The scheme will provide businesses with a quick and easy way to report issues such as shop theft, antisocial behaviour and violence to police.

Officers will be able to access information provided on the portal, allowing them to build stronger evidence files and increasing the chances of successful prosecutions.

Tim Roberts, who owns Spar on Newport Road, Barnstaple, has joined the scheme. He said “As an independent retailer for over 20 years, I've long felt that the only way to start to solve the ever-increasing problem with shoplifting and anti-social behaviour is to work together.

“The platform that UKPAC provides allows partnership working with the Police, retailers and other key stakeholders, using technology to legally share intelligence and imagery that both helps prevent crime and prosecute repeat offenders.

“I would encourage all retailers to join me and the other existing members in Barnstaple to register with UKPAC. I am already seeing the benefits with known offenders being identified and refused entry from my stores and the more retailers that join, the more effective the scheme will be."

To date, 84 businesses across four pilot locations in Devon and Cornwall have signed up to the system.

If deemed successful, the scheme will be extended into other towns in North Devon.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Shoplifting and other business crime is an increasing concern for hardworking traders who are the lifeblood of our villages, towns and cities.

“We must prevent criminals from damaging their livelihood by stealing goods and making staff and customers feel unsafe. It has long been a specific focus of mine and is why I have made theft a priority for the first time in my Police and Crime Plan, which commits to tackling the issue on our high streets.

“This year I have invested in the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) business crime reduction partnership, which not only lets traders - including those in the hospitality industry - report any crime in just a few minutes via an app or online portal but also lets them share intelligence among the business community. UKPAC analysts can then build robust cases ready for prosecution, especially around prolific repeat offenders, reducing the impact on policing resource.

“In Torbay, where I recently launched my free one-year pilot, two successful convictions have already been achieved in the space of a few months. I hope to offer this free trial to more areas across Devon and Cornwall in the coming months.

“If you’re a business that’s being affected by shoplifting or antisocial behaviour, or if you’re worried about the effect crime in general is having on the high street, please sign up. It takes just a couple of minutes to report and UKPAC will help the police to build a picture and bring persistent offenders to justice.”

Benefits of joining the UKPAC network include:Quick and easy crime reporting through an online portal

Greater intelligence sharing across businesses and authorities
Targeting of prolific and repeat offenders
Higher-quality evidence leading to more successful prosecutions
Access to discounted crime prevention services through UKPAC partners

Hannah Harrington, Place Manager at North Devon Council, said: “We know our town centre businesses work incredibly hard and we understand the impact shop theft can have on staff morale, customer confidence and the overall sense of safety in the town. The UKPAC system gives our business community an easy way of reporting issues in the town centre directly to the police and we hope as many businesses as possible will sign up to be a part of it.

“We are proud to be working with Devon and Cornwall Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on this project. We are all committed to working together to find effective solutions to tackle business crime and ensure Barnstaple is a thriving place for all to live, work and visit.”

For more information about UKPAC, or to sign up, visit https://uk-pac.com/