Digital innovation tackling shoplifting

A new digital system is helping Dorset Police to tackle shoplifting, with retailers now able to submit evidence faster and officers in a position to resolver cases quicker.

The new system has resulted in improved results 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 investigates’ 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.”

A store representative from One Stop in Dorchester added: “We’re really impressed with the NiCE Investigate system, it’s been incredibly effective for us here at One Stop Dorchester.

“We’ve been able to combat more offenders a lot quicker, with numerous of them being convicted.

“Completing the digital theft pack is quick and easy, and we’ve seen faster police action as a result.”

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.

How the digital system works

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.

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.

Spotting the travelling thieves

The work to tackle shoplifting has also been enhanced by the creation of the dedicated Retail Crime Team, which handles all shoplifting reports across Dorset.

By consolidating reports in one place, officers can now identify offenders who travel across the county to avoid being recognised and caught.

In a recent case the same offender was identified targeting stores in Poole, Stalbridge, Blandford, Swanage and Shaftesbury, with nearly £2,000 worth of goods stolen. By linking multiple reports and digital theft packs, investigators were able to present a complete picture of his offending to the court, resulting in swift guilty pleas.

Sergeant Corbett said: “Thanks to due diligence from the retailers who provided us with the necessary evidence, we were able to identify the offenders and bring them before the courts.”

Partnership driving success

Dorset Police has worked closely with the Dorset Safer Business Partnership and major retailers to design these systems around their needs.

Chief Inspector Alyssa Forrest, Dorset Police’s retail crime lead, said: “The Retail Crime Team is a dedicated team that operates across the whole of Dorset, officers are subject matter experts and are skilled at identifying offenders.

“Dorset Police takes’ retail theft seriously and delivers a robust approach to this corrosive crime.”