Operation Cuts £3.2m Retail Crime

Thames Valley Police has launched a targeted operation in Reading town centre to tackle retail crime, which has resulted in significant reductions in crime. The operation, which has won the 2026 Laycock Award, has caught offenders and reduced the impact on shop staff, businesses, and the wider community.

Retail crime in Reading had reached a critical point, with estimates suggesting more than 55,000 shoplifting incidents in the past year, resulting in losses of around £3.2 million. Despite the scale of the issue, only a small number of incidents were being reported to police, masking the true level of harm and frustration felt by retailers.

National and local research suggested that over half of shoplifting offences were linked to individuals stealing to fund a drug dependency. Hotspot locations were identified in Reading town centre, along with patterns showing higher levels of offending earlier in the week and later in the day. The team also identified prolific offenders, opportunistic shoplifters, criminal entrepreneurs, and organised crime groups targeting high-value goods.

The operation coordinated a four-strand response: divert, pursue, prevent, and protect, alongside partners including Reading Borough Council, Change Grow Live, Oracle, and Broad Street Mall security teams, and local retailers. A Business Crime Navigator was created, funded through the Home Office and embedded within Change Grow Live’s outreach service. This role acts as a bridge between police, businesses, and support agencies, directing prolific offenders into rapid access drug and alcohol treatment at the point of arrest or police contact.

Early results are promising, with several individuals already engaging with treatment. Alongside diversion, officers ran plain-clothes operations securing arrests, charges, and prison sentences. High-visibility patrols and “Have Your Say” events at retail hotspots have increased reassurance for staff and the public. Overall reports of shoplifting have risen, suggesting an improved confidence in reporting, and shoplifting offences occurring within the retail focus area were recorded to be 12.5% lower than the wider Reading town centre area.

Source: Thames Valley Police