Force hopes 'game-changing' tactics will turn shoplifting tide

New tactics rolled out this year by Merseyside Police mean that when there is overwhelming evidence against a shoplifting suspect, a fast-track digital evidence-gathering protocol can be followed to free up officers to investigate more cases.

Ch Insp Chris Ruane said the results of Operation Dale were "game changing" and that his force was now solving about 46% of reported offences - approximately double the rate of six months ago.

The city-centre neighbourhood team's workload is increasing, too, with the number of reported incidents having increased by about 10% during the last financial year.

Ruane acknowledges: "It is a challenge for us but we have a dedicated policing team who are combating those offences."

When asked to explain why shoplifting had increased on Merseyside, Ruane pointed to several factors.

They include the cost of living crisis and pressures on the prison system leading to many offenders "bouncing back" into crime upon their release from custody.

For some people, Ruane said shoplifting was their "career of choice".

Previously a pilot, Operation Dale has this year been adopted across Merseyside.

Ruane said the changes meant his force was "saving around seven to eight hours on each incident" and that this time "can be put back to visibility out on the streets and tackling some of the other issues".

He explained: "People need to recognise that the police are detecting nearly one in two [cases] now, that's gone up from probably one in four only six months ago."

Repeat offenders are known to the teams working on the streets.

Ruane said: "We'll have a lot of 'frequent fliers', shall we say.

"So my staff are able to identify the offenders. We'll also see CCTV images that we capture and we'll circulate who we don't know."

Shops in the city centre are linked through a radio system, set up by the Liverpool BID organisation, for security and information sharing.

Police say they are now tracking about six reported offences every day.

Ruane explained that every incident with a reasonable lead, such as CCTV footage or a witness, is investigated.

"Hopefully we'll continue to push on and drive that performance up and start to build in a deterrent factor as well of 'you're going to get caught, so pack it in'."

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