Dorset Police tackles shoplifting using digital tools

Shoplifting has been an increasing problem over recent years and a scourge for many local businesses. However, Dorset Police say a new digital system is helping to tackle the situation.

A new system has resulted in improved outcomes, and officers are stressing the importance of reporting retail thefts to police.

In the last three months of 2025, the Force’s Retail Crime Team achieved a positive outcome rate of over 70 per cent for shoplifting offences, significantly above the national average at a time when retail theft is increasing across the country.

Contrary to the common misconception that police do not pursue shoplifting under £200, Dorset Police investigate all reports – and the majority of cases dealt with through the Force’s Operation Shopkeeper that are sent to court involve low-value thefts.

These build powerful evidential profiles against repeat offenders, leading to prosecutions involving multiple counts and substantial sentences. Retailers are urged to report every incident.

Matt, a security guard at Tesco Express in Poole, said: “The digital theft packs are a massive advancement, they’re incredibly quick and easy to complete. Now when we submit a report, the offender can be identified and held to account within days.

“This is a huge morale boost for staff and customers – we’re all really impressed and thankful for the cooperation and efficiency of Dorset Police.”

Among the recent successful prosecutions by the Retail Crime Team was prolific shoplifter Jason Christopher Evans, who was jailed for 32 weeks in December 2025 after repeatedly targeting Boots stores in Christchurch and Poole over a five-month period, stealing more than £7,000 worth of goods across 14 separate offences.

Dorset Police need retailers to report all shoplifting incidents, even low-value thefts. Under-reporting hides the true scale of the problem and lets prolific offenders continue unchecked.

When retailers report shoplifting, officers can link offences across stores and identify repeat offenders. CCTV evidence can be used to build stronger cases for prosecution. And by identifying patterns and trends, the police can set up targeted patrols and prevention in hotspot areas.

Sergeant Ryan Corbett, of Dorset Police’s Retail Crime Team, said: “This intelligence-led approach has proven highly effective at disrupting the most harmful offenders.

“Every report we receive helps us build the bigger picture. The NiCE evidence platform and digital theft packs drastically cut processing times, getting vital information from retailers to officers in hours rather than days.”

To report shoplifting online, visit https://www.dorset.police.uk/ro/report/.

For non-emergency incidents where the offender has left the premises and there is no immediate threat, the online portal is the fastest way to report. This frees up 999 and 101 for genuine emergencies, whilst ensuring your report still reaches the dedicated Retail Crime Team.

Reporting takes minutes but delivers justice. Every report strengthens the case against prolific offenders.

Retailers can now upload CCTV footage, witness statements and crime scene images directly through NiCE Investigate, a secure digital platform that eliminates delays caused by post, email or manual handover. Evidence reaches the investigation team within hours.

In the case of Jason Evans, officers identified him within days of retailers submitting their evidence through the new system – dramatically faster than traditional methods.

Once submitted, all evidence is integrated into a single case file on the police case management system, allowing officers to view the full picture – store location, offender description, CCTV stills and linked incidents across multiple retailers – in real time.