Met Police expand shoplifting evidence platform to eight more London boroughs

Retailers in eight more London boroughs will be able to submit CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence directly to Metropolitan Police officers from 17 September 2024. The digital platform, already in use in six boroughs, has reduced the time officers wait for evidence from up to 28 days to minutes.

The Met Police reported that the system has quadrupled the proportion of shoplifting cases resulting in a caution, charge or other criminal disposal. Before its introduction, 7.3% of cases led to such outcomes. Since the platform launched, that figure has risen to 29.4%.

How the platform works

Retailers who subscribe to the platform can upload evidence immediately after an incident. Officers no longer need to request footage or statements separately, which the Met said has accelerated the process of identifying, arresting and prosecuting offenders.

The platform is currently used by major retailers including Tesco, Boots, Marks & Spencer and Greggs. Julie Murphy, vice president for Boots’ London and travel division, said the company was committed to partnering with the police to tackle retail crime. She told the *Evening Standard* that the results showed progress in reducing shop theft.

Recent cases linked to the platform

In June 2024, Michael Belgrave, 55, was sentenced at Ealing Magistrates’ Court to nine months in prison and a five-year criminal behaviour order. Belgrave, who has no fixed address, stole goods worth over £4,000 from shops including Greggs and BP. The order bans him from entering any branch of Holland and Barrett, Greggs or BP in England and Wales.

In May 2024, a teenage boy stole goods worth more than £100,000 from Boots and Holland and Barrett stores across London. He was spared jail at Highbury Corner Youth Court after being told to turn his life around. The Met did not confirm whether the platform was used in either case.

What happens next

The platform will be available to retailers in Southwark, Lambeth, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley, Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow from 17 September 2024. The Met Police said they will continue to monitor its effectiveness and may expand it further. It is unclear whether Barnet Council or local businesses have discussed adopting the system.

Chief Inspector Rav Pathania said tackling retail crime remained a top priority for the Met. Reported shoplifting offences across London have fallen by almost 4%, but the force said it would not reduce its efforts to combat the issue.