The number of students charged with shoplifting in Kingston is set to fall this year compared with three years ago, according to new figures from the Metropolitan Police.

The data, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, showed that cases of theft committed by students in Kingston shops declined from 26 in 2005/6 to 12 in the first eight months of 2008/9. If the trend continues this year, shoplifting amongst students would fall by almost a third. Similarly, shoplifting offences committed by people of all ages and occupation in Kingston would fall by 18%. 

Business Crime Reduction Manager Paul Riordan from Kingston Business Against Crime (KBAC) said: “I am pleased with this recent decrease in shop theft, but this may all change in the new economic climate”. 

Mr. Riordan said that this successful crackdown on crime may be due to the close working partnership between KBAC, local authorities, stores, the Police and PCSO’s as well as CCTV and Townlink Radio systems installed in Kingston town centre, currently numbering 71 businesses:

“Townlink Radio links back to our control room so information is circulated extremely quickly and we are able to target offenders “, he explained.

Mr. Riordan also said that National Business Information Systems (NBIS) allows KBAC to keep a detailed database of offenders, whether the police are called out or not. Therefore they can identify repeat offenders and have the civil power to ban them from entering shops under the KBAC scheme with the further possibility of violent offenders being granted an Anti-Social Behavioural Order (ASBO).

Surbiton resident Christopher Hedges, 36, is currently serving on a seven month custodial sentence and risks being jailed for longer if he enters any of the 120 shops in Kingston town centre that are members of KBAC. Due to his aggressive nature, a two year ASBO was imposed on him on 16th September 2008.

Inspector Julian Hagley of Kingston Police said:  “This is excellent news for those that work and shop in Kingston Town Centre. Christopher Hedges has brought misery to those that are running lawful and respected businesses”.

Security guard Dennis Omakinwa for Marks and Spencer, Kingston believes this decrease is due to the effectiveness of Townlink Radio and CCTV, but also the on-street presence of police and PCSO’s.
“Clarence Street, where M&S is based, is full of ‘eyes’ to catch shoplifters. These results are very positive for us and shows we are doing a good job”, he said.