Data-sharing app helps Wakefield shops crack down on theft

Businesses in Wakefield are pinning their hopes on a new mobile application, expecting it to help tackle the city's growing problem of retail crime. The launch of this app is aimed at strengthening community safety and has garnered support from West Yorkshire Police, Wakefield Council, and the Wakefield Business Improvement District (BID).

Initiated by the "Safer Wakefield" project, this app will allow businesses to report crimes in real-time, facilitating quicker action. The Wakefield Business Improvement District stated that the app will help stores identify crime patterns and repeat offenders, thereby more effectively preventing and responding to retail crime.

Katie Medley, the operator of the second-hand shop "My Eco Baby," expressed her hope that the app would enable incidents to be dealt with "more quickly" and help staff feel "safer." Ms. Medley revealed that her charity shop is frequently targeted by shoplifters, causing considerable distress to her employees.

Ms. Medley told the BBC, "We have incidents in the shop all the time. We've been targeted so many times, people just come in and take things straight off the hangers and walk out." She further added, "A few weeks ago, someone came in and just pushed a pram out that they hadn't paid for." She also added that other incidents, such as people being caught stuffing items into their clothes, can be more threatening.

Ms. Medley praised the app as "absolutely brilliant," stating, "I think by us being able to communicate and share information together, as soon as we see someone come in that we know is banned, it will be instantly stopped. That way, there is less chance of someone taking stock."

Thomas Wales of the Wakefield Business Improvement District stated that the app will allow businesses to "paint a picture" of the types of crimes that are happening. He said, "If that's happening repeatedly across different businesses, we can say this offender has caused hundreds of pounds worth of theft and provide that evidence to the police." He also added that even small thefts, when accumulated over time, can cause significant losses, and while police may not handle these small thefts individually, they can gather evidence and intelligence to remove these individuals from the city, ban them from entering, and initiate criminal proceedings.

Alison Lowe, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire, stated, "I am engaging with local businesses, the council, the police, and the wider community to discuss how we can tackle crime and anti-social behavior head-on through real-time communication and intelligence sharing. By working together on retail crime and using the latest technology like the new app, we can improve reporting and ensure swift action is taken."