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Surrey Police’s retail crime strategy

The image shows two Police Community Support Officers in high-visibility jackets and hats. They are walking down a busy high street as members of the public walk in the opposite direction.

Surrey Police’s objectives are to:

  • Attend where there is a call for service. Surrey Police will use THRIVE – Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability, Engagement – to assess all calls for service with making deployment decisions. The opportunity of following investigative lines of inquiry should be a priority, and if further information comes to light, the Force will re-THRIVE. Prioritised incidents include those where violence has been threatened or used; where an offender has been detained; or where evidence needs to be secured that can only be done so by police.
  • Follow all reasonable lines of inquiry. For example, where there is CCTV or other footage, this will be recovered and used as evidence where possible; where there are strong forensic and evidential opportunities, officers will use this appropriately to build a case; and where property is stolen with unique features, police will seek to recover it.
  • Target repeat offenders. A majority of retail crime in Surrey is committed by a few offenders. A proactive approach to identifying and targeting resources.
  • Work with partners to tackle organised retail crime. Operation Opal is the National Intelligence Unit for Serious and Organised Acquisitive Crime, and this initiative is supported by the Force. Surrey Police also supports Project Pegasus, a partnership between business and policing that improves the way retailers can share intelligence.

Four things make the most significant difference to getting a positive outcome for victims:

  1. Meaningful reviews by supervisors in the Force
  2. An early victim statement
  3. Arresting the suspect at the first opportunity
  4. A quality, recorded investigation plan

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