Don't bother calling us for shoplifting cases under Ł75

London Telegraph
Feb. 09, 2006

Traders have reacted with dismay after their local constable told them not to bother calling police over shoplifting crimes involving goods valued at less than Ł75.

Gordon Wallis said such offences were a drain on resources because they could "extract" two or more officers for up to three hours.

His letter has angered shopkeepers in the Bournemouth suburb of Boscombe who complained they paid high business rates and were being let down. They feared thieves were being given "a licence to steal".

Last night Tobias Ellwood, the Tory MP for Bournemouth East, demanded a meeting with Martin Baker, the Chief Constable of Dorset, to clarify the policy.

"If there are not enough officers to take care of these sort of offences, then there isn't enough money going into front line policing and that is down to the Government," he said.

"Taking up to three hours to process a case of shoplifting shows there is an urgent need for reform."

In his letter, on Dorset Police paper, Pc Wallis wrote: "I respectfully request that prior to calling the police, consideration be given as to whether the matter could be dealt with within the store. I would like to recommend that the police are not called in the case of goods below a value of Ł75."

He advised shopkeepers that they could order suspects to leave as they were on private property and also warned that they could be in breach of human rights if they detained suspects and "took their liberty". This could arise if there was a delay in the arrival of police, "which does happen quite often", he wrote.

Steve Kent, 50, who runs the Dazzle clothes store, said: "It is not my job to deal with shoplifters. Considering the amount of business rates we pay we are being let down. We are not asking for a lot, we just want the police to be there when you need them.

"Under the law theft is theft, it doesn't matter if it is Ł1 or Ł75 and the police should do their job and catch these people. They are giving shoplifters a green light to come in and steal. Seventy-five pounds is a lot of money to a small retailer, it is probably their profit margin for one day."

His business partner Jenny Chant added: "It does make you feel vulnerable. It is a horrible feeling. We feel like we have got no support to call on."

Ridvan Sevgi, 39, who runs the Costcutter store, said: "This is a complete surrender. It leaves us with no protection at all."

Stuart and Lyndsey Wildman, both 26, who own Top Pets, said: "We're just starting out with this business and the thought of losing Ł75 on a regular basis is terrible. That is the equivalent of three and a half rabbits or 11 hamsters for us."

David Thompson, a pharmacist, said: "Unfortunately we've got to that stage in society where minor illegalities are deemed legitimate. Children will commit crimes today that their grandparents would never have dreamed of."

It is not the first time Dorset officers have been accused of not doing enough to catch criminals.

In December 2004 Suzanne Miller was startled when she called police to catch a burglar she chased out of her house, only for them to give him a lift home.

In May 2004, Lee Fraser ran to Wimborne police station to escape a road-rage driver, only to find it closed at 7am. He was beaten up on the steps of the station by the thug.

And Boscombe saw a jump in shoplifting last year when 500 offences were reported, up from 309 in 2004.

In a statement last night, Dorset Police said information in the letter had been incorrect.

Supt Nick Hazelton said: "I would like to apologise to retailers who were led to believe that we may have changed our policy.

"We have not changed our policy and we record all allegations of crime before assessing the best level of investigation in order to bring offenders to justice.

"The references in the letter to not calling the police for thefts of items below a value of Ł75 and the references to human rights legislation preventing the public from detaining people they suspect of having carried out a crime are incorrect.

"While sent with the good intention of reducing crime, the letter, sent by a local police officer, was a mistake and incorrect - it does not reflect Dorset Police policy."