Police launch week of action to tackle 'devastating' business and retail crime

As part of the National Safer Business Action Week – organised by the National Business Crime Centre – the campaign will see officers from Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield carrying out specialist operations, focused patrols and engagement events throughout the week.

Officers are undertaking a joint approach alongside Business Crime Reduction Partnerships, Business Improvement Districts and the private security industry to engage with businesses and members of the public and raise awareness of crime prevention activities in relation to retail crime.

Supt Paul Ferguson said: "We are already committed as a force to tackling retail crime and supporting businesses across South Yorkshire, and this week of action provides a fantastic opportunity to make more people aware of the devastating impact this crime has on businesses and the local community, and how we are tackling it as a force.

"No business deserves to be targeted by shoplifters and thieves, and no shop worker should go to work facing the threat of violence at the hands of these criminals.

"It is important that businesses are made aware of the best ways to prevent shoplifters from stealing in the first place and for us to all work together to combat retail crime and stop thieves in their tracks once and for all."

Supt Patrick Holdaway, lead for the NBCC, said: “The week of action is co-ordinated nationally but it very much focused on local crime and ASB issues impacting retail and other businesses in the community.

“It is as much about engaging with businesses and the public as it is about identifying and catching prolific offenders.

"Last year’s week of action saw some fantastic results in targeting those who cause the most harm to businesses and also in building ongoing relationships between business, partners and the police.”