Wokingham Town

Retail Crime and Shoplifting which is a town wide issue.

The Neighbourhood Policing Teams have engaged with retailers and helped set up Shop Watch over the past months, encouraging use of the DISC system which has seen a marked increase in subscribers and users.
We have planned and implemented plain clothes operations in town to detect, deter and convict prolific offenders. We charged prolific offenders with over 30 offences in last 2 months.

A robust approach to tackling retail crime in the Thames Valley has been introduced by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). Developed jointly with retailers, business groups and Thames Valley Police (TVP), the PCC’s Retail Crime Strategy sets out tangible actions to tackle shoplifting, retail crime and violence towards shop workers.
The strategy aims to support businesses and create a hostile environment for those who commit crimes in the local economy by focusing on 6 key pillars – Intelligence, Enforcement, Partnership, Prevention, Justice and Reassurance. It also includes the creation of a Business Crime Team within TVP to improve investigations and identify prolific offenders and, with the rollout of Operation Purchase, the Force’s operational response to retail crime, increasing the visible presence of police officers and PCSOs in retail spaces as well as improving the officer response to reports, particularly incidents involving violence towards staff.
A core aim is to enhance the collaboration between businesses and the police to better tackle retail crime in addition to the policing response. To help facilitate this, access is being provided to Disc – an online information-sharing and reporting platform which allows retailers to report and access information about crime such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour (ASB). The system, which can be accessed as an app, also makes reporting to the police faster and more efficient as users can submit a crime report directly through the platform, removing the need to call 101. We believe these measures will deliver a more visible, targeted and robust response to retail crime, increase the security and confidence of local businesses and help make high streets and retail spaces across the Thames Valley safer for the community.

Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) and begging/loitering outside retail shops. Criminal damage to the Carnival car park, drug use in the stair wells and vehicles being used in an anti-social manner.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team have conducted multi-agency meetings with the WBC ASB team and the Town Council around long term orders that can be applied for. We have have made contact with shops and businesses around impact statements with a view to issuing Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) - a formal written notice, part of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, that warns someone over 16 about ongoing anti-social behaviour or nuisance that's negatively impacting the community. It's a warning that if the behavior doesn't change, a more formal Community Protection Notice (CPN) will be issued. The CPW outlines the specific actions required or prohibited within a set timeframe - to main offenders. We have also spoken to individuals involved and looked to educate them on the negative impact they are making on the community.

Drug activity, dealing and use across the Wokingham Town area.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team are conducting regular patrols of identified hot spot target areas to detect, deter and prosecute known offenders as part of their daily duties. We currently have a property which is the subject of a Closure Order which has reduced activity and reports.

A Closure Order is a legal order that prohibits access to a property for a specified period, typically due to concerns about anti-social behavior (ASB), disorder, or nuisance. This order can be issued by a court or by the police or local authority under specific circumstances. Breaching a closure order is a criminal offense, punishable by fines and/or imprisonment, and can also lead to eviction for tenants.