Cardboard cops to deter shop thieves

Humberside Police say the scheme could be rolled out to the rest of the city.

Detective Inspector Mark Shreeves said it was just one of the ways they were tackling shop crime, adding: "The cardboard officers act as a psychological reminder to potential thieves that police are clamping down on shop theft and working to make businesses less susceptible to shoplifting."

Police say as well as acting as a deterrent the move shows they are there to support residents and businesses.

But shoppers have expressed mixed reactions and Andrew Allison of the Hull and East Riding branch of the Taxpayers' Alliance was sceptical.

He said: "Most of these stores will have CCTV.

"It won't really deter the hard core of criminals who want to steal from these shops. Are they really necessary?"

The scheme has the backing of Hull Business Improvement District, which aims to improve the city centre. Phil Overfield of the Bid said businesses were "delighted" with the initiative.

One of the cutouts – which cost 100 and feature life-size photographs of serving members of the Riverside Neighbourhood Police team – has already gone up in Boots, in the Prospect Centre, in Hull.

Cutouts have been used by other forces – and by Humberside Police itself nearly ten years ago.

The force used three replica cops in shops and on the

streets in Bridlington in a drive in 2000 to cut crime and raise awareness of crime prevention initiatives.

In addition to the cutouts police are also distributing A3 posters for smaller premises.

Anyone with information about a shop theft can contact Humberside Police on 0845 60 60 222.