NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Frequently Asked Questions
About our Policy
1. Does this mean Humberside police are not recording retail crime?
No. Every shoplifting incident that is reported to Humberside Police will be
assessed and recorded as per the Home Office guidelines. Once the
assessment is complete the incident will be recorded as a crime, with details of
the person(s) responsible, if applicable and the outcome.
2. Is this free reign for a shoplifter to target my store?
No. Humberside Police are committed to proactively target the most prolific
offenders who target your business and damage your community. In these cases
this will usually result in court proceedings.
Humberside Police’s key principles in dealing with retail crime are; prevent, deter
& disrupt. Retail businesses must attempt to prevent shoplifting in their store.
Humberside Police will use an offender(s) previous offending behavior to
determine the most suitable outcome based on the circumstances.
3. Why is the Humberside Police policy changing?
Humberside Police recognise a need to change. Humberside Police want to
make better use of public funds through proactive approaches to retail crime.
Our traditional methods of reactive policing were often ineffective. We believe
that preventing the crime together will make a real difference.
4. What if this policy conflicts with head office policy?
Humberside Police believe that preventing, deterring and disrupting retail crime
should be the core principles in reducing retail crime in any retail business. We
encourage retailers to adopt these principles.
In detaining offenders, retailers will be dealing with non-aggravating factor
incidents and imposing a store sanction.
If a retail business policy does not reflect the prevent, deter and disrupt principles
nor does it support detaining offender(s), the retail business may increase the
risk of making themselves vulnerable to further shoplifting, due to a lack of
proactive interventions and issuing of sanctions.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED 5. What does the term aggravating factor mean?
The meaning of aggravating is whereby an offence that has been committed or is
in the process; is becoming worse or more serious.
For example if an shoplifting offence occurs and the offender upon exiting the
store shouts verbal threatening language or assaults a member of staff, this
incident would be seen as aggravating.
6. What are the aggravating factors?
The aggravating factors are:
 Violence or threats
 Prolific/Persistent offender
 Organised crime
 Hate Crime
 Vulnerable store
 Juveniles—under 18 years of age
 Identity cannot be verified or offender not cooperating
 Any other significant factor
7. What is meant by violence?
The violence aggravating factor includes: physical violence and threats
8. How do I know if an offender is prolific or persistent?
When a store has an offender detained for shoplifting within their store, they will
assess the incident to wherever any aggravating factors are present.
If no initial aggravating factors are present, the store must call Humberside Police
on 101 (non-emergency). If the store requires emergency assistance they must
call Humberside Police on 999.
Humberside Police will further assess the incident from the information provided
and complete checks on the person(s) detained within the store. Humberside
Police will then confirm if the person detained requires Police deployment.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED 9.
What is evidence of organised crime?
Organised crime is pre-planned and can be committed by a single person or a
group of people who intended to engage in illegal activity prior to entering the
store.
Examples of such activity could be:
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For example if a shoplifting offence occurs and the offender(s) have been
detained and it is discovered that they were using foiled lined bags to
bypass the security Emergency Alert System (EAS), this incident would be
seen as organised crime.
For example if a shoplifting offence occurs and the offender has used a
cutting tool to remove security device from an item, this incident would be
seen as organised crime.
For example if a shoplifting offence occurs and two offenders have been
communicating in store, moving and hiding items around the store in order
to steal the items at later time, this incident would be seen as organised
crime.
10. What is Hate crime?
When a person(s) shows prejudice towards another based their disability, race,
religion, Sexual orientation, transgender, age or gender.
11. Do I report juveniles?
Yes. A juvenile is a person under the age of 18 years and this is an aggravating
factor.
12. What is a vulnerable store?
A vulnerable store is a retail business which has suffered criminal event(s) which
has had physical, emotional or social affects and the business have an inability to
withstand the affects.
This may be relevant to small independent retail businesses who have low
turnover.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Examples of this may include
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A charity store who have only one or two members of staff and have
someone detained for a shoplifting offence.
An independent retail business who have only one member of staff
working and are victim of a shoplifting offence by a known/unknown
person who steals valuable items which has great impact on the business.
13. What if I have an offender detained and they are refusing to provide
details?
One of the aggravating factors is detained person(s) not cooperating as they
refuse to provide personal details. Under these circumstances, this is
aggravating and a Police patrol will be deployed.
14. What do I do if I suspect an offender has provided false details?
One of the aggravating factors is detained person(s) provides personal details,
believed to be false by the retail business. Under these circumstances, this is
aggravating and a Police patrol will be deployed.
15. What should I do if I have an offender detained who appears under the
influence of drugs/alcohol?
If you are unable to communicate adequately with a detained person(s), as they
appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, this is seen as any other
aggravating factor and a Police patrol will be deployed.
16. What should I do if I have an offender detained who appears to have
mental health issues or to be unwell?
If you have genuine concerns regarding the physical symptoms someone is
displaying, seek advice from the relevant health care professional in the first
instance. Any criminal offences will be reassessed once any risk to the
person’s(s) welfare has been mitigated.
17. What if I have concerns regarding the vulnerability or welfare of an
individual who has been detained?
An individual could be considered vulnerable either due to peer pressure from
others or someone who appears to have the inability to cope. If you have
concerns make us aware and we will assess each case. A police officer may be
deployed to establish further details and mitigate any risk to the detained person.
In some instances we work with partner agencies to address these concerns.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED About Prevention
18. How can I prevent retail crime?
Our five key prevention tips for stores are:
 Ensure that staff are attentive and greet/acknowledge all customers who
enter the store. This is not only good customer service, but also makes
potential thieves feel uncomfortable as they know staff are aware they are
in store.
 Know your local shoplifters, ban them and keep them out.
 Place vulnerable stock in areas of the store that can easily watched by
staff as this will deter thieves.
 CCTV systems should cover the entrance, exit and areas where high
value stock is displayed. Ideally a monitor displaying CCTV should be on
the shop floor. CCTV signage and security policies i.e. prosecution policy
should be displayed to deter thieves.
 Join with local retailers to form a Retail Crime Partnerships (RCP) and
have a stronger say in keeping your community safe and register with online Communications tools
Please visit www.humberside.police.uk, for further crime prevention advice.
19. What are Humberside police offering to support my store to reduce
crime?
Humberside Police are offering to proactively support your store by:
 Offering a retail crime security survey, complete with recommendations
 Joint approach to establish a community based RCP
 Partnership support with the Health & Safety Executive
 Supporting an online communication portal chosen by retailers, to find out
more please contact your neighbourhood policing team
Please visit www.humberside.police.uk, for further information.
20. How do I know if I would benefit from a retail crime security survey?
The retail crime security survey assesses your store’s response in preventing
shoplifting. The survey provides key recommendations that could be made in
order to reduce the risk of shoplifting within your store. The survey assesses the
following key areas and provides impartial recommendations: Staffing &
procedures, Intervention and prevention policy, store layout & stock location,
target hardening/removal, deterrent factors, CCTV & alarms systems and retail
networks & partnerships.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED 21. How do I arrange for a retail crime security survey to be completed?
Please contact your Neighbourhood Policing Team to arrange a retail crime
survey via 101 or please visit www.humberside.police.uk.
22. How do I know who my Neighbourhood Policing team are?
Please visit www.humberside.police.uk, and using your address select ‘my
neighbourhood’ to discover who your local policing team are.
23. What is a RCP and what are the benefits?
A retail crime partnership is a formation of a community, whereby the members
are neighbours who look out for each other. A RCP consists of a set
geographical base of retail businesses who take responsibility to work together to
reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The RCP provides the members with the
ability to speak as one voice in their community whilst having point of contact with
authorities and other community safety partners. Members create a two way
communication channel to enable them to share information between themselves
and authorities. Additionally the communication channel enables authorities to
provide crime prevention advice, news and intelligence.
Please visit www.humberside.police.uk or contact your Neighbourhood Policing
Team, for further information.
24. How do I start a retail crime partnership?
To establish a RCP, a geographical area which consists of various retail
businesses needs to be identified. From here you need to identify the
Neighbourhood Policing Team who cover this area and contact them to assist.
Collectively, contact the other retail businesses to promote the benefits and
gather the interest in forming the RCP. Create a contact list and communication
system, this is usually done through email systems, telephone ring round or an
online portal. Start to regularly communicate with the RCP members through
information sharing.
25. How do I find out more about the online communication portals?
Please contact your Neighbourhood Policing Team to find out more about the
online communication portals via 101 or please visit www.humberside.police.uk.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED 26. What happens if I don’t have access to the internet to view online
communication portals?
Retail businesses across Humberside have opted for an online communication
portal to improve information sharing across a large geographical area.
Humberside Police encourage retailers to engage with such initiatives and gain
support from their business decision-makers to access the portal, enabling them
to work together.
27. What is the internal recording form and how do you use it?
Humberside Police have created a generic internal form for retail businesses to
record their retail crime issues. This form is for optional usage. The form is not
for reporting crime to the Police but an internal form which allows a retail
business to record their retail crime and asks for essential information. The form
also allows a retail business to analyse and audit their issues, which help
determine what prevention methods are most suitable.
About the Policy in practice
28. How do I deal with a detained shop lifter?
1. Take the detained person(s) to a safe location within the store with a
minimum of two staff members
2. Obtain and verify the identification of the offender(s)
3. Determine if any aggravating factors are present
4. Contact Humberside Police on 101 or 999 (emergency) as appropriate
and relay the circumstances and personal details of the offender(s) to
enable a Police assessment to be completed. You will be advised over
the telephone immediately or on call-back to advise if a Police patrol
will be deployed or otherwise
5. If deemed suitable for your retail business to process the offender(s)
internally (without a Police presence), complete the offender
processing form for the detained offender(s) and issue a store sanction
Please visit www.humberside.police.uk, to view, save and print the retail
businesses process map, offender processing form and other relevant
documentation.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED 29. When will I be required to produce CCTV and/or a statement of
evidence?
A retail business will be required to produce CCTV and/or statements of evidence
when there are aggravating factors present during an incident, this includes
circumstances were an offender(s) is detained or otherwise.
30. What sanctions can I impose on someone who steals from my store?
A retail business has a number of sanctions available for them to impose,
including:
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Formal banning from the store for a given time period
Civil recovery*
Restorative Justice**
Retail businesses should consider building such sanctions into their security
policies.
*Civil recovery is a tool available which supports retail businesses in the
recovery of proceeds of crime.
**Restorative justice is a tool available which focuses on the needs of the
victims and offender. The victim plays an active role whilst the offender(s) are
encouraged to take responsibility.
31. What if I don’t have security staff at my store?
All members of staff play a vital part in preventing, deterring and disrupting retail
crime. Employing the services of a security guard can be beneficial to a retail
business, however, if the retail business do not to employ a guard, they may
increase the risk of making themselves vulnerable to shoplifting.
32. What if my staff don’t have the confidence to deal with a detained
offender?
The welfare of staff and customers is priority under any circumstances. A retail
business will be required to process a detained offender whereby no aggravating
factors are present in an incident. Retail businesses must familiarise themselves
with the process in order to understand it. If the retail business policy does not
support detaining offender(s) they may increase the risk of making themselves
vulnerable to further shoplifting.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED 33. What if my staff don’t have the confidence to challenge suspicious
activity?
One of the most effective preventive measures against shoplifting is attentive
staff who offer good customer service to all customers. The majority of retail
businesses have policies which reflect how to provide good customer service and
how staff should conduct themselves. If a retail business policy does not exist
they may increase the risk of making themselves vulnerable to further shoplifting.
34. Do I report shoplifting offences where the offender is not detained and
there are no aggravating factors?
Yes. A retail business will report these offences to Humberside Police and the
crime will be recorded. Humberside Police will investigate such offences when
aggravating factors are present.
35. When will you deploy a police officer to my store?
Humberside Police will deploy a Police Officer when an offender(s) has been
detained due to aggravating factors being present during the incident.
36. What number do I ring?
Contact Humberside Police on 101 unless you require an immediate police
response call 999.
37. What happens if the same known or unknown offender repeatedly
targets my store?
Humberside Police will investigate such offences where a trend is occurring and
will require evidence from the retail business to progress an investigation.
38. How do I verify someone’s identification?
When a retail business has an offender(s) detained for a shoplifting offence, they
are required to ask for personal details of the offender(s) detained. The retail
business must satisfy themselves that the detained offender(s) is who they say
they are, with a valid address. If a retail business has any suspicion that
personal details provided are false or the offender(s) is not cooperating, a Police
patrol will be deployed.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED There are a number of ways a retail business can verify an offender(s)
identification:
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Official identification such as driving licence, passport, educational ID card
or other identification with available photo
None photo identification such as utility bills, bank statements and
electoral roll may support verification, but a retail business must treat such
identification with caution.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED