Manchester
The government is expected to announce plans to increase the number neighbourhood policing officers.
Greater Manchester Police said the investment would help it in its focus on tackling burglary, robbery, knife crime, domestic abuse and antisocial behaviour – particularly in town centres.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Ch Insp Steve Warriner said the force was now investigating “each and every offence” of retail crime that was reported.
Emily Spurrell, chairperson of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, and PCC for Merseyside, said more neighbourhood officers would be “vital for building trust” and creating “safer” communities.
Of GMP’s retail crime initiative, Ch Insp Warriner said: “Businesses have now got the confidence because they know when we report it we’ll take action.”
He said the force’s focus on “repeat offenders” meant it had been able to take off the streets two who had committed 80 crimes between them.
“Ultimately a community that feels vulnerable as a result of people committing crimes such as shoplifting and not being held accountable,” he said.
Co-Op store manager Darryl Stuart-Cole said his shop in Ladybarn Court in Fallowfield was experiencing 20 incidents of shoplifting a week before GMP changed its approach.
“It lowers morale in the store to see these offender leaving without paying for goods,” he said.
“It’s very frustrating because they knew they could get away with it there was very little going to happen to them.”
He said although it is difficult to deter prolific shoplifters, the increased police presence was helping.
“For some of the smaller crimes, the police would not attend or communicate with us.
“Now the police attend every single time we call them no matter what size of the crime.
“We can see the difference, we have a good working relationship with the police.”
Matt Boyle assistant chief constable for local policing and prevention for GMP said new investment would allow the force to increase its neighbourhood resources and “be more preventative and more proactive” and put a bigger focus on communities.
He highlighted the work the force had done in Victoria Park in Denton, where vandalism and anti-social e-bike riding was putting people off using the park.
“Our neighbourhood team have meaningfully put solutions in place to deter people away from those acts of crime and disorder,” he said.
“We’ve used some enforcement powers where we’ve had to, but look at it today it’s a well enjoyed well used park for the local community.”
