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<p>The Government recognises the significant impact theft has on businesses, communities,
and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is
down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.</p><p>We have recently
taken significant steps to improve the police response to acquisitive crime, including
car theft and shoplifting. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has made a commitment
that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there
is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender. His Majesty’s Inspectorate
of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have commenced a thematic
inspection on the effectiveness of police investigations which will include an assessment
of how police forces are implementing the reasonable lines of enquiry commitment.</p><p>The
Government is working closely with police and motor manufacturers through the National
Vehicle Crime Working Group, chaired by ACC Jennifer Sims, the National Police Chiefs’
Council lead for vehicle crime, to take forward a programme of work to prevent and
reduce vehicle crime nationally. A network of vehicle crime leads has been established
in every police force in England and Wales, ensuring forces share information about
emerging trends in vehicle crime and are better able to tackle regional issues. The
Metropolitan Police Service are represented on the Working Group and have an established
vehicle crime lead.</p><p>We are legislating through the Criminal Justice Bill to
create two new offences where a person possesses, makes, adapts, supplies or offers
to supply electronic devices where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will
be used in vehicle theft. The legislation will make it easier for police to prosecute
criminals making and supplying these devices, as well as vehicle thieves.</p><p>In
October 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnbcc.police.uk%2Fimages%2F2023%2FNews%25202023%2FRetail%2520Crime%2520Action%2520Plan%2520-%2520October%25202023.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CKhadijah.Ishaq%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C8b18b703bcd74360c86208dc4e4ae8f6%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638471330832400997%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5e7W%2BvmSjzdF4LYfcXbmPUp5E0xKCZUe0aWBOkhQHsw%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">Retail Crime Action Plan - October 2023.pdf (nbcc.police.uk)</a>.
Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise
police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where
an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured
and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital
images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid
efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.</p><p>We
are continuing to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade
associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG),
which meets on a quarterly basis, to ensure the response to retail crime, including
shoplifting, is as robust as it can be.</p>
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