Nottingham Cracks Down on Retail Crime with Safer Business Action Day
Nottingham city centre saw a major police push on Tuesday 18 July, with officers out in force to crack down on shop theft and other crimes targeting local businesses. The operation aimed to deter criminals, support retailers, and tackle the root causes of criminal behaviour.
Shoplifters Face the Music – and Support
The day featured patrols and targeted visits by Nottinghamshire Police’s Prevention Hub Crime Prevention team. Officers carried out crime prevention assessments at local shops to offer advice on protecting their premises and helped apply for Criminal Behaviour Orders against repeat offenders.
Known prolific shoplifters were called in to a problem-solving drop-in hub, where they met support agencies offering help to turn their lives around. The hub showcased schemes like the Offender to Rehab project, which aids shoplifters struggling with drug addictions with backing from Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and local retailers.
Attendees, including homeless people, also accessed free food and hygiene packs courtesy of partner agencies like Framework, Clean Slate, and Nottingham City Council.
Arrests, Resolutions, and Wider Engagement
- Six suspects were arrested during the operations, mainly for shoplifting.
- One offender received a community resolution – a chance to avoid court by agreeing to education or reparation.
- About 40 people received support at the drop-in hub, while the Crime Prevention team engaged with around 100 retailers on crime issues.
The Safer Business Action (SaBA) Day in Nottingham was one of only three held nationwide this year, supported by Nottinghamshire’s PCC and the Business Improvement District (BID). It brought together police, local businesses, private security, and crime reduction partnerships to share best practices and tackle retail crime head-on.
Police and Partners Pledge to Fight Shop Theft
“Shop thefts are common and hugely damaging to communities, hitting livelihoods and causing misery,” said Nottinghamshire Police Chief Superintendent Suk Verma. “We must listen to local businesses and act to stop this. Visible patrols deter criminals while support schemes like Offender to Rehab help stop reoffending.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry added: “Shoplifting hits hard-working shopkeepers and customers who pay the price via higher costs. Holding the SaBA Day here shows how seriously we take this crime and allows us to highlight all the work done locally to tackle it.”
Alex Flint, CEO of Nottingham’s BID, said: “We work with 300+ retail members to create a vibrant city centre economy. Tackling business crime and supporting partnerships is crucial to sending a strong message that we will reduce this problem.”
Superintendent Patrick Holdaway of the National Business Crime Centre said: “Violence and abuse against shop workers is never acceptable. The SaBA Days help deter, disrupt, and detain persistent offenders. It’s great to see Nottinghamshire Police leading this important initiative.”
With fresh focus and collaboration, Nottingham aims to make its shops safer and send a clear warning to criminals: your days of easy shoplifting are numbered.
