Detective Chief Superintendent SW London BCU Met Police
Dear Steve
May I request a statement please which I can share with residents on the topic of shoplifting in Kingston and the wider borough.
When I joined the SW London Met team recently for the Ride-along blue light night shift one of our emergency destinations was the Sports Direct shop in Kingston central reporting shoplifting theft. The staff there told us that the same repeated offender walks in every day and brazenly helps himself to merchandise to order and that he has repeatedly been retained and cautioned but nothing works to stop him. With the team we spent 45 minutes viewing CCTV and cautioning him again while he pretended not to speak English, serving him with a notice that had consequences for reoffending. The security staff were exasperated by this continual and virtually routine re-offending.
Our high street in Kingston cannot sustain this onslaught of routine crime which breaks business and upsets residents and shoppers. Many local residents have told me that they no longer shop in Kingston feeling safer in other local town centres. What can be done to stop shoplifting and make Kingston feel safer?
There is a consultation out currently from the council addressing this question with residents. https://www.kingstonletstalk.co.uk/community-safety-and-emergency-planning/safer-kingston-partnership-survey/
Shoplifting has hit the headlines this morning with the Chairwoman Dame Sharon White of John Lewis speaking out on the topic and how prevalent it is and how much a year is lost.
I would be very grateful for a statement this week from the SW London Met team on Shoplifting and the impact on the High St and shoppers to reassure residents and business owners of the high priority that we give to this.
Many thanks
Helen Edward | Parliamentary Candidate Kingston & Surbiton
3 Bridle Cl, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2JW
