SHOPLIFTING incidents over the summer months reduced in Frome town centre, compared to last year, according to figures shared by Avon and Somerset Police with Frome Times.
The figures show in May this year there were 14 incidents compared with 43 last year; in June, there were 23 incidents compared with 36 last year; In July, there were seven incidents compared with 29 last year; and August, 13 this year compared with 40 last year.
The figures are in light of a new national project that aims to crack down on shoplifting and an announcement that nationally, retailers are seeing a rise in shoplifting and retail theft, which has been partly blamed on the cost-of-living crisis.
Ten of Britain’s largest retailers, including supermarkets Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose and Co-op are funding a police operation called Project Pegasus which will allow CCTV pictures of shoplifting incidents to be run through the Police National Database – in a bid to identify thieves and tackle the rise in shoplifting.
With Sainsbury’s being one of the retailers supporting the new project to crack down on the issue, the supermarket has said they will continue to focus on security in all stores, including Frome’s. The company has increased the number of security officers and staff already wearing cameras where footage can be uploaded directly to a police portal.
“The safety of our colleagues and customers continues to be our highest priority,” says a spokesperson for the supermarket, “We also use measures to deter criminal activity like our in-store detectives and security doors.”
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said, “We would certainly urge any such incidents [of shoplifting] are reported to us on 999/101 or via the online form on our website, Avon and Somerset Police: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/forms/brc
