Over the past 12 months, the Hillingdon Safer Neighbourhoods Team has been tackling the rise in retail crime and associated anti-social behaviour (ASB) across the borough. Through strategic intelligence gathering and proactive policing, significant progress has been made in reducing theft and related offences in key retail locations.
Retail hotspots experiencing frequent theft and ASB were identified and the local Safer Neighbourhoods ward teams adopted these venues, integrating them into their regular patrols. By closely monitoring activity and identifying prolific offenders, officers have worked towards obtaining Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to provide long-term solutions.
Collaboration with the central business crime team and key retail sector partners has played a crucial role in finding effective crime prevention measures. Notably, businesses that engaged with their local policing teams have seen a significant reduction in retail crime and associated ASB.
BP Long Lane was previously a hotspot for retail theft, with incidents going viral online due to blatant, unchallenged shoplifting. Working closely with the police, BP introduced authorised security personnel capable of detaining offenders and recovering stolen goods. As a result, theft has decreased by 80% over the past four months.
One prolific offender, who was frequently targeting BP Long Lane, was successfully issued a CBO. Although the individual left the area, they have since been arrested multiple times for breaching the order and are currently serving a 17-week prison sentence.
Another offender, known for repeatedly stealing from Next in Uxbridge town centre while also engaging in begging on the High Street and drug-related activities in the area, has now been issued a CBO excluding them from the town centre.
Greggs in Hayes Town has also seen an 80% decrease in retail theft following proactive measures by the local policing team. By identifying repeat offenders and obtaining robustly enforced CBOs, the Hayes town team has successfully curbed theft and ASB in the area.
– Five Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) have been granted at court.
– Four CBOs are currently being processed through the court system.
– Seven additional CBOs are in preparation.
Positive outcomes for business crime across Hillingdon have risen from 866 in 2023 to 1,151 in the past seven months, ranking Hillingdon second out of all 32 London boroughs in the Metropolitan Police for business crime resolution.
