Portsmouth Retail Workers Detail Assaults and Unanswered Shoplifting Complaints

Retail workers and business owners on a specific Portsmouth street have expressed being “too tired to complain” about shoplifting incidents, stating that their reports to the police have gone unanswered. A staff member from an Albert Road mini-market recounted to the BBC: “A few weeks ago one of my colleagues caught someone shoplifting and then was hit in the eyes. It’s horrible.” This situation arises as official data indicates a one-third increase in shoplifting incidents throughout Hampshire. Hampshire Constabulary stated its priority is making the “right calls for those at significant harm and risk.” Concurrently, Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones is backing the creation of a smartphone application designed to enable shopkeepers to report shoplifting rapidly. An anonymous shop owner on Albert Road reported submitting more than 150 shoplifting complaints without receiving any communication from the police. “We are tired of complaining, so now we don’t complain,” another retail employee commented. A couple mentioned observing shoplifting on Albert Road “all the time.” They remarked, “They take anything of value. The meats and stuff. But they can’t be that hungry because they can run pretty fast.” According to security guard Abu, Fridays and Saturdays represent the peak times for shoplifting at the supermarket where he is employed. He stated, “Before you could try and stop them but now you can’t. Sometimes if I catch them they will just yell at you or abuse you and walk away.” Data from the Office of National Statistics reveals that shoplifting offences in Hampshire increased to 14,233 in the year ending March 2024, up from 10,252 offences in the preceding 12-month period. On a national scale, a House of Lords committee determined that shoplifting incurred costs of almost £2 billion for the retail sector last year. Chief Inspector Marcus Cator of Hampshire Constabulary commented: “There have been times where we have been particularly reducing our resources.” He explained that the demands on Hampshire Constabulary fluctuate significantly throughout the year, encompassing responsibilities from managing events such as D-Day in Portsmouth to addressing retail crime on high streets and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. Ch Insp Cator reiterated: “We have to go to the right calls for those at significant harm and risk.” He also noted that the responsibility for private security personnel rests with retailers, and policies differ among stores. “Many retail chains have a policy of non-contact as they could have more concern for the welfare of their staff over the value of their property,” he further stated. Appearing on BBC Radio Solent, Hampshire PCC Ms Jones asserted that there was “no way” the police force would fail to respond to numerous shoplifting incidents. She attributed the issue, saying: “This is a symptom of not having enough police officers, and the problem with shoplifting is a rise in drug addiction which people are doing to fund their addiction.” Ms Jones explained that an upcoming smartphone application would enable shopkeepers in Hampshire to instantly upload CCTV footage to submit reports, which detectives could review “really quickly.” While not providing specific launch dates, she mentioned that the app, funded for its initial year by the PCC’s budget, would subsequently cost shopkeepers £20 per month. She declared, “This is going to be a massive game changer for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight constabulary, but particularly for all retail workers.”