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shoplifting where appropriate. Police opportunities for shop thieves to investigation when making these
can still arrest offenders and will operate. decisions.
continue to do so in cases of repeat It is important to remember that The recent in depth cross
offence, high value theft, or where we have also provided greater Whitehall review of fraud has
drug/alcohol addiction is suspected. freedom to develop local responses resulted in £29m in new money over
Retail theft was added to the PND to crime and the advent of Local three years to implement the
scheme in recognition of the retail Area Agreements (LAAs) means that National Fraud Programme which
industry's concerns about police now, more than ever before, funding will include a National Fraud
responses to reports of incidents of decisions are made at the local level Strategic Authority (NFSA), a
minor shoplifting; previously little or to address local issues. National Fraud Reporting Centre and
no action was taken. While there may a National Lead Force for
be some problems, retailers in areas With the recent pay review causing investigating fraud. The NFSA will
where the police are making good use a strain in relations between the drive a cohesive national anti fraud
of the new disposal have reported a Home Office and the police, how can policy drawing together government
much improved response to and retailers be assured that Home departments, law enforcement, and
handling of reports of minor Office guidelines will be adhered to? finance industry representatives and
shoplifting. The guidelines have been produced will be operational in October this
A review of the guidance on PNDs, by the police representative body year. In addition the National Fraud
covering compliance and fine ACPO for the police, with support Reporting Centre will equip law
enforcement, is currently underway in from the Home Office, and it is for enforcement agencies with a
the Ministry of Justice and members local forces to utilise them. We powerful intelligence tool and help
of the National Retail Crime Steering recognise that the police are key form the basis of better prevention
Group (NRCSG) have been invited to partners in our efforts to reduce advice and alerts to fraud threats for
comment on the guidance. The retail crime and an ACPO business and the public. Further to
Ministry of justice has also agreed to representative sits on the national this the City of London Police will
report to the next meeting of the retail crime steering group and take on a national role in the
Group on the effectiveness of police officials regularly attend the ACPO investigation of serious and complex
responses in deterring re-offending by Business Crime Group to review fraud offering assistance to other
different categories of shop thieves police practice in relation to retail forces and establishing a centre of
including first time, persistent and theft and advise on the concerns of excellence to co-ordinate training
drug dependent offenders. retailers. and best practice
What is the scope of the new Home With internal fraud continuing to Is there any merit in a fast track
Office steering group on business rise, do you see any scope for system of justice for drug offenders -
crime? Who is on it and what is its retailers engaging their own private paid in part by the retailers - who
brief? How can it make the day to day police forces to take care of what agree to go on rehabilitation
lives of the retail community better? many see as a failing of the existing programmes rather than face jail
I am pleased to be able to chair the law enforcement agencies to more thereby taking a problem off the
NRCSG which gives leading retailers vigorously prosecute offenders? streets by breaking the cycle of
and business organisations the There are highly successful examples dependency - I steal to feed my
opportunity to discuss and develop of industry funded specialised police habit?
plans to tackle the crime issues which units tackling specific types of crime. It is widely accepted that there is a
are of most concern to the retail One such example is the Dedicated correlation between the use of
sector. A key part of our strategy is to Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit which certain drugs and offending,
encourage business to work closely in is sponsored by the banking and card particularly acquisitive crime
partnership with the police and local industry and has a remit to (including shoplifting). The Drug
authorities through the CDRPs to investigate cheque and plastic card Interventions Programme was
inform local crime reduction fraud where there is an element of introduced in 2003 to direct drug
strategies. organised crime. The Home Office is misusing offenders out of crime and
For example the Home Office is very supportive of such partnership into treatment. The Programme has
working with the Department for working, however it must be proven hugely successful and has
Business Enterprise and Regulatory remembered that police forces are had a significant impact on reducing
Reform to identify best practice operationally independent and acquisitive crime. Since the
examples of where business has cannot be directed on what crimes programme began, recorded
worked effectively with local crime to investigate by another body. acquisitive crime – to which drug-
reduction partnerships. We are also Ultimately it is the Chief Officer of related crime makes a substantial
looking at ways of equipping local the force who is responsible for reduction – has fallen by a fifth. The
partnerships with the ‘tools’ to decisions on whether and how to programme has improved access to
address the problem of retail crime. investigate any alleged crime taking drug treatment which is key to
One such example is the funding we into account a number of factors helping drug misusing offenders
have provided to the Perpetuity including resources, national and reduce their drug misuse and
Group, which is led by Professor Gill, local policing priorities, the likely offending. In March 2004, the
to devise an audit tool which retailers eventual outcome and the number of drug misusing offenders
can apply to their stores and help competing priorities of fraud and going into treatment was just 438
retail outlets significantly lower the other criminal cases already under but the Drug Interventions
26 • RETAIL FRAUD
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