Shop owner locks doors during hours after theft in Surrey

James: James is a plain-clothed police officer with Kent Police's dedicated retail crime team in Canterbury. He has described observing groups scoping stores, using prams and trolleys to conceal stolen goods, and operating with speed to evade detection. His operational observations highlight the organised nature of much retail offending in the city. Paul Stoner: Paul Stoner is district commander for police in Canterbury. He established a dedicated retail crime team in response to an 18-month rise in offences and emphasised the value of local knowledge combined with facial recognition technology to quickly identify repeat offenders. His leadership focuses on disrupting a small number of prolific criminals responsible for much of the local crime. Chris Thoday: Chris Thoday serves as borough commander for Elmbridge with Kent Police. He has commented on the sophisticated tactics employed by organised retail crime groups in the area, including pre-reconnaissance of shops, and noted trials of lone worker alarms for staff safety. His insights reflect local policing efforts to address rising shoplifting in Surrey and surrounding counties. Lisa Carlson: Lisa Carlson is chief executive of Canterbury Business Improvement District. She oversees a street team that trains businesses on evidence gathering and manages a radio network linking retailers with police and council CCTV for real-time incident reporting. Her work supports coordinated prevention and response efforts among local shops. Andrew Gibson: Andrew Gibson is director at the family-run Gibson's Farm Shop in Wingham, Kent. He has reported losses from organised thefts of high-value items such as meat and alcohol and turned to social media to publicly identify and shame offenders. His experience underscores how retail crime affects rural businesses as well as urban high streets. Lisa Perretta: Lisa Perretta manages the Brighton and Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership in Sussex. She coordinates with other partnerships across the county to flag repeat offenders and has improved education for businesses on reporting crimes promptly. Her approach aims to enable earlier intervention against known shoplifters moving between areas. Paige Mengers: Paige Mengers runs designer boutiques in Surrey and south-west London. Following a targeted theft at her store involving organised thieves with wire cutters, she has implemented stricter security including locking doors during opening hours and requiring customers to ring a bell for entry. Her account illustrates the direct effects of retail crime on business operations and staff wellbeing in the South East. Olivia Carroll: Olivia Carroll is temporary chief inspector at Sussex Police with responsibility for the business crime team. She has noted the high volume of retail crime reports in the county, including organised group offending, and prioritised action against repeat prolific offenders. Her comments reflect Sussex Police's ongoing focus on retail crime as a key issue. Police Priorities: Forces across England are concentrating resources on a small number of repeat prolific offenders who drive a disproportionate amount of shoplifting incidents. Government Legislation: The Crime and Policing Act 2026 created a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers to strengthen protections for shop staff and address retail crime more effectively. Technology and Collaboration: Retailers and police in multiple regions are expanding use of tools such as facial recognition, direct reporting apps, radio alert networks, and business improvement partnerships to improve real-time response and evidence sharing.