Hertfordshire Chief Constable busts myth that police don’t deal with shoplifters who steal goods worth less than £200
Police in Hertfordshire DO prosecute shoplifters who steal goods worth less than £200 – and will take “robust action” against those committing theft from retailers at all levels.
That’s the message that emerged from the second of the new accountability and performance meetings between the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hertfordshire and the Chief Constable, which are broadcast live online for the public to view.
PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards asked Chief Constable Charlie Hall about the myth of the £200 shoplifting limit as he was concerned that public confidence in the force’s ability to tackle the crime was being damaged by the belief that thieves could get away with stealing lower-value goods.
He was given a categorical assurance that there was no such lower limit for police to investigate shoplifting – and evidence presented in the meeting showed that all of the last 10 cases the constabulary sent for prosecution were for values under £200, with four being below £50.
During the meeting, Mr Ash-Edwards said: “A really common public view around shoplifting is that policing doesn’t investigate and doesn’t deal with it if the value is under £200. Is that the case in Hertfordshire or is that a public myth?”
Mr Hall replied: “It is a complete public myth and is categorically not true. We have no policy around a £200 limit and we’re not going to. We are charging and putting before the court people who have committed shoplifting well below the £200 figure.”
Addressing the rise in shoplifting, Mr Ash-Edwards said: “It’s an area a lot of shop workers are concerned about because [of] the impact it has on their work and their safety. What is the constabulary’s approach to tackling shoplifting and retail crime?”
Mr Hall replied: “We recognise shop theft has been a local and national issue which has grown in the last few years.
“Offenders generally fall into one of three categories. There is the complete opportunist, there are those who are more prolific in the local community, often with a habit to fund, and there is a smaller number of organised crime groups which travel around the country and undertake shoplifting on a very significant basis. We have procedures in place to address each of those in different ways.”
After the meeting, Mr Ash-Edwards said: “It has become commonly believed in the media and among some businesses and residents that policing won’t respond to reports of lower-value shoplifting under £200. I am very pleased to have received the Chief Constable’s assurance that this is completely untrue in Hertfordshire.
“Thriving town and village centres are essential to Hertfordshire’s economy. Retailers shouldn’t have to put up with thefts, and retail workers must be able to do their jobs safely.
“I want the message to get out there that the police in Hertfordshire will take robust action against those who are committing shop theft at all levels.”
The accountability and performance meetings, held monthly at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City, have been introduced by the PCC, who was elected in May, to hold the Chief Constable to account for the performance of Hertfordshire Constabulary.
At the first meeting, on July 18, Mr Hall admitted that 1,000 crimes of violence against women and girls are reported in Hertfordshire every month – but just 5% of alleged perpetrators are charged and appear in court.
Recordings of the meetings are available to watch back, along with dates of future meetings, at hertscommissioner.org/apm. The next meeting is due to be held on Tuesday September 17.
