The National Retail Action Plan was recently developed and initiated by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Policing Minister Chris Philp and 13 of the UK’s biggest retailers. This comprehensive plan aims to enhance collaboration between law enforcement agencies and retailers to address various challenges faced by the retail sector. The plan details areas for the police to develop alongside retailers. Essex Police is committed to working with Retailers to deliver this plan in partnership. 

As a responsible retailer, your commitment to the safety and security of your staff, customers, and premises is crucial in ensuring a conducive environment for business. The National Retail Action Plan provides a framework for retailers to actively engage with law enforcement, contributing to the overall safety and security of our communities.

Key elements of the plan include:

• What reports should be prioritised to police.
  • Where there are incidents involving violence or threats of immediate violence. 
  • Hate related crimes. 
  • Offences committed by prolific/persistent or juvenile offenders. 
  • Offences where there is evidence of organised crime. 
  • Offences committed with a significant value or commodity type (e.g., corrosive liquid etc) or where there are reasonable lines of enquiry to pursue.
• Sharing relevant information to combat crime.
  • CCTV images that capture the whole incident and should be shared electronically via a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS)
  • Or the CCTV should be shared, on an agreed timescale, via a CD/USB etc if an online transfer is not possible. 
  • Provide a digital image of the suspect.
  • A witness statement is required from the staff member reporting and from the staff member who witnessed the offence, including stock loss details and other offences. 
  • A statement to produce the CCTV as evidence to be made by the relevant staff member. 
  • Also consider completing an Impact Statement for Business (ISB) which is a written statement and is intended to provide businesses that have been victims of crime with a voice in the criminal justice process.

By aligning your business with the National Retail Action Plan, you not only enhance the security of your establishment but also contribute to the broader efforts of law enforcement in tackling retail-related crimes.

To facilitate a seamless transition, please review the link below outlining the plan and its implementation guidelines. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the outlined responsibilities and integrate them into your existing security protocols.

Retail Crime Action Plan

Your cooperation in adopting the National Retailers Action Plan will undoubtedly strengthen the partnership between retailers and law enforcement, fostering a safer and more secure retail environment for all.

If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated liaison officers in the Business Crime Team Business.Crime.Team@essex.police.uk 

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your active participation in this important initiative.