Hello

You may have seen this week that I have spoken to various media outlets about the impacts of shoplifting. As national PCC lead for business and retail crime, tackling shop theft is a top priority and I have long called for robust police intervention followed swiftly by meaningful criminal justice measures that deter and prevent criminals from re-offending.

In my previous newsletter, I spoke about our upcoming Sussex tagging pilot which I am hoping will act as a deterrent to prolific shoplifters. Meaningful schemes like this are desperately needed, especially as courts are currently releasing shoplifters in order to free up spaces.

Expectations that the police alone can address the rise in retail crime are idealistic at best. With resourcing as tight as it is, we cannot put an officer on every high street, never mind in every store so it is vital that our neighbourhood police teams work closely with partners like our Business Improvement Districts and Business Crime Reduction Partnerships who provide Safety Marshals.

I have also been asked for my views on whether individuals should get involved if they see shoplifting taking place? In most instances, I would not advocate or advise that the public try to apprehend shoplifters - apart from the personal risk to yourself that they may have a weapon such as a knife, you also run the risk of committing an assault, unlawful restraint or wrongful arrest.

Of course, there will be occasions when it is feasible, safe and perfectly legal to effect a citizen’s arrest but it must be for an indictable offence that is in the process of being, or has been, committed.

Earlier this week, I was interviewed on Good Morning Britain alongside reformed prolific shoplifter, Cullan Mais. Cullan spoke candidly about how, at the height of his offending, he was stealing over £2,000 worth of items on a daily basis and how he has been sentenced to prison 10 times.

Having now turned his life around, he agrees that sentences need to be harsher and he stressed the need for better rehabilitation for drug users who shoplift to feed their addictions.

You can watch our interview by going to the link below (ITVX) and forwarding to the time stamp 1:55. Please note the link will expire in the next couple of days.

Watch the interview here.

How police are tackling FGM

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a global issue and is carried out for various cultural, religious and social reasons within families and communities.

In this country, FGM/C is rightly a criminal offence. It is understood that, in this country, 170,000 women and girls have undergone a form of female genital mutilation.

To tackle these shocking and violent crimes, Sussex Police and partners run the most successful and largest operation nationally at London Gatwick Airport  – leading the way for other force areas wanting to improve their service. This ongoing work is known as Operation Limelight.

The team (made up of Sussex Police, Border Force, Social Services, experts and specialist support organisations) work to identify flights travelling to countries where harmful practices are prevalent.

The team meet with passengers in the relevant boarding lounges and speak with all groups to ask, inform and safeguard anyone who may be at risk of FGM/C or other harmful practices.

If someone is identified 'at risk' or discloses that they are travelling for that purpose, the police will safeguard and signpost them to support services.

Keep your eye on my website in the coming week, where I'll be posting a longer article about the importance of Operation Limelight and further details on the work of the team.

Katy Bourne OBE
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner