'Green light to shoplifters' claim

Humberside Police said retailers in North East Lincolnshire should instead keep a diary of minor value thefts, rather than report the crimes immediately.

The force said it had the backing of shopkeepers, but Godfrey Bloom Ukip MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, ridiculed the initiative and said many were opposed to it.

Mr Bloom claimed the idea was giving a "green light" to shoplifters, saying: "I find it unbelievable that the police who are supposed to protect the public, obviously including hard-working shopkeepers, have come up with this hare-brained scheme."

Under the scheme, which is being piloted in the district but may be introduced elsewhere, retailers are told not to dial 999 if they fall victim to petty shoplifters, but to note the details in log books.

Police community support officers (PCSOs) will then visit the stores to read the logs.

But Mr Bloom said police had got their priorities wrong.

"It's fine to devote resources to catch Middle England motorists inadvertently going just a mile or two over a 30mph limit, or for parking on a yellow line," he said.

"But stop brazen deliberate thieving, good heavens no.

"We are told it is not because of a lack of resources – well it's certainly because of a lack of common sense.

"It is plainly nonsense to try to argue that petty shoplifting will not increase."

The Ukip MEP went on to say that the idea might even threaten the viability of some businesses.

"Small shopkeepers are struggling to survive in these hard economic times and the amount they lose from pilfering is very serious. This scheme could lead to some going under."

North East Lincolnshire Council leader, Councillor Andrew De Freitas, said he also had concerns.

"If the shopkeeper has got CCTV and evidence of who has committed the thefts then the police certainly need to follow it up," he said.

The force has defended the scheme and said it had been developed with local retailers, who fully backed the approach.

A spokesman said: "The scheme has been piloted for some weeks with a number of small shops but the diaries are now being rolled out more widely.

"It will be some time yet before all retailers have them.

"The diaries will enable shopkeepers to record incidents of anti-social behaviour and shop thefts which otherwise may go unreported. 20 has been set as a guideline level to indicate the sort of maximum level that would be suitable for this process."

The PCSOs will then visit businesses across North East Lincolnshire at least fortnightly to review and discuss the diaries.

Any thefts will then be recorded by the police, building up a picture of crime in the area, the spokesman said.

This information could lead to patrols increasing in crime hotspots and more advice being given to shopkeepers on extra surveillance for their premises.

Officers also hope the information compiled in the diaries will help them to take action against individuals committing offences – for example, with applications for anti-social behaviour orders and providing bad character references in court.

The spokesman added: "Some businesses have told police that they don't often report the most minor shop thefts so this scheme will allow officers to find out about these incidents in order to assist retailers.

"The diary will be used to record any information the retailer wants the police and the council to be aware of, no matter how big or small the issues seem to be."