Category: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

The Summit aims to harness digital capability and technology to deliver public safety and confidence in policing.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Innovation and Digital Summit will be taking place between 20 to 22 October 2025 in Liverpool with applications for the Digital Awards 2025 now open. 

The Summit is being organised by the NPCC Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee (DDaT) and the NPCC Science and Innovation Coordination Committee in coordination with the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, industry partners and Police Digital Service (PDS). It will be an opportunity for policing to strengthen collaboration between forces, law enforcement and industry.  

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Lead for Digital, Data and Technology Chief Constable Rob Carden and Lead for Science and Innovation Jeremy Vaughan, said: “The NPCC Innovation and Digital Summit is an opportunity to bring senior leaders and practitioners from across policing , together  with those who have key roles in innovation, business changes, digital, data and technology in the law enforcement bodies. 

“This is a Summit which is being put together by policing, for policing, so that we can ensure that those delegates attending are able to strengthen their digital capabilities and explore opportunities to improve the way they use technology in order to better protect the public and the communities we serve.” 

The Digital Awards 2025 will be taking place during the summit on evening of 21 October, where policing will be recognising the outstanding contributions by police staff and teams across UK law enforcement agencies.  

Nominations are open until 14 July 2025 and judging will take place following the closing date. Only UK based law enforcement agencies or their team are eligible to be nominated to receive an awards but nominations can be made by policing, partners or suppliers. Those wishing to submit a nomination should visit https://bit.ly/DigAwards25.  

Eight distinct categories will celebrate achievements in various areas: 

• Innovation in Embedding Digital Solutions to Front Line Policing: This category celebrates the exceptional efforts of an individual or team who have successfully embedded innovative digital solutions into front line policing. 

• Excellence in Cyber Security: This category celebrates the efforts of an individual or team who have gone beyond to ensure the protection of police systems and data from threats and data loss. 

• Collaboration in the furthering of Digital, Data and Technology: This category recognises effective use of partnerships and collaboration to deliver enhanced digital, data, or technology capabilities for the benefit of UK policing.  

• Enabling Diversity & Inclusion in Science & Technology: This category recognises the outstanding efforts of an individual or team who have supported, promoted, or inspired diversity and inclusion within their organisation or in the wider policing community, particularly in the fields of science and technology. 

• Excellence in Training, Talent & Development in Digital, Data & Technology: This category is for an individual or team who have facilitated the development of others in the fields of digital, data and technology. 

• Excellence in Productivity & Value for Money: This category will recognise the impact an individual or team have had on reducing or avoiding costs whilst improving quality of service or capabilities. 

• Excellence in Science & Technology Leadership: This category acknowledges great leadership, irrespective of role or rank, in the delivery of excellent solutions surrounding Science and Technology. 

• Digital Data and Technology Ambassador: This category looks to identify those who have gone beyond reasonable expectations to promote and facilitate more effective and efficacious use of Digital Data and Technology within UK Policing. 

The NPCC Digital Awards will be judged by representatives from the NPCC Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee, NPCC Science and Innovation Coordination Committee, the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, trade bodies (representing the supplier community) and Police Digital Service.  

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “These awards are a fantastic opportunity to honour and celebrate the digital pioneers who are shaping the future of policing. It is a great way to recognise the individuals and teams making a real difference on the ground – where dedication meets innovation in law enforcement, ensuring police forces have the tools they need to keep communities safe and secure.  

“I am looking forward to seeing the innovation on display from our talented colleagues across the UK.” 

The award winners and nominees will be celebrated at the National Police Chiefs’ Council Innovation and Digital Innovation Summit 2025. The event is shaping up to be the biggest and most impactful summit yet, bringing together the UK’s leading figures in law enforcement, technology, and data on October 20-22 in Liverpool. More information on how to attend is available on the Police Digital Service website. 

Abnormal loads guidance developed in collaboration with industry

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), in collaboration with the Abnormal Loads Group (ALG), has today released new national guidance to support police forces in the management of abnormal load movements across the UK. The new guidance marks a significant step forward in improving coordination, transparency, and efficiency for both law enforcement and the transport industry.

This landmark document reflects extensive consultation with the transport and logistics sectors and is designed to ensure a safer and more predictable operating environment for the movement of abnormal loads, while also supporting the operational requirements of police forces.

Key highlights of the new NPCC guidance include:

• 30-Day Window Acceptance
• Clarification on Embargoes
• Targeted Embargo Approach
• Police Escorts and Legal Authority

Chief Superintendent Marc Clothier is part of the NPCC portfolio for Roads Policing. He said:

“This new guidance is a testament to what can be achieved through close collaboration between law enforcement and industry. I’d like to thank all of our partners for their support and engagement which has enabled us to develop a practical document benefitting everyone. 

“It brings greater clarity to both police forces and operators, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and focusing resources where they are truly needed.”

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, said:

“We’re delighted that the NPCC has listened and understand that this guidance is an economic enabler and we look forward to continuing to work with them collaboratively going forward.

“We recognise that police have an incredibly challenging job to do and abnormal loads movements are a specialism. It’s only right that officers across all forces have the most up-to-date guidance that will help them support operators moving abnormal loads.

“This will also give infrastructure project leaders and hauliers the certainty that they will have a consistent service from officers when they require their support.”

The NPCC has agreed that the guidance will be subject of ongoing review and amendment, so it remains fit for purpose.

A formal review will take place twelve months after publication. 

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Contact Portfolio today (29 May) announces a significant step forward in policing transparency and efficiency: the publication of monthly 101 call wait time data. This initiative demonstrates the continued commitment of police forces across England and Wales to improving public contact, responsiveness, and service accessibility.

Starting with figures for the financial year 2024/25, the data – published on Police.uk – will offer the public clearer insights into how long it takes to reach their local force via 101. The publication of these figures reflects years of dedicated efforts to modernise police contact systems, introduce technology-driven solutions, and provide greater accountability to the communities that police serve.

Policing Efforts Cut 101 Call Wait Times to Just 32 Seconds 

Significant advancements in contact management, including enhanced digital triage, AI-driven call routing, and smarter resourcing strategies, have led to a remarkable reduction in 101 call wait times across the country – now just 30 seconds.

This achievement reflects the dedication of forces in adopting modern solutions and refining call-handling processes to ensure that members of the public receive swift assistance when they need it. Investments in intelligent queuing systems, workforce optimisation, and automated call-back technology have played a pivotal role in delivering these improvements.

The NPCC Contact Management Portfolio remains committed to further refining these systems, driving innovation, and maintaining the highest standards in public service efficiency.

T/DCC Catherine Akehurst is the outgoing NPCC Contact Management Lead and has led the development and implementation of this initiative. She said:

“This marks a defining moment in how policing connects with the public. The journey to reach this point has been one of collaboration, dedication, and sheer determination by colleagues across forces who have worked tirelessly to modernise contact management.

“From refining call-handling processes to integrating new technologies, every step has been guided by a commitment to ensuring that people who need assistance can access it efficiently. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed their expertise and passion to this project; it is their ingenuity and perseverance that have made this possible.”

DCC Simon Megicks is the Digital Public Contact Lead and new NPCC Contact Management Lead. He added:

“Publishing this data is not only about transparency – it is about progress. Police forces are now leveraging artificial intelligence, digital call-routing, and smarter triage systems to enhance contact management like never before. We are at the forefront of technological transformation in policing, ensuring that public interactions become more efficient, seamless, and responsive.

“I want to thank T/DCC Catherine Akehurst and all those who have worked to bring us to this moment. Now, we move forward – continuing to evolve, innovate, and push the boundaries of what is possible in contact management. The future is bright, and this initiative is just the beginning of what’s to come.”

“This new standard in transparency and data publication reinforces policing’s commitment to continuous improvement in service accessibility, responsiveness, and efficiency. As forces integrate smarter digital solutions and refine operational processes, the focus remains on providing reliable and responsive contact management for communities across the country.”

Think Before You Call – Keep Emergency Lines Clear This Summer

With summer approaching, police forces are preparing for a surge in calls. The warmer months bring an increase in demand, and it’s essential that emergency lines remain clear for those who truly need urgent help.

999 is for emergencies only – serious crimes, threats to life, and situations requiring immediate police response. 101 should be used for genuine police matters, such as reporting non-urgent crime or seeking advice from your local force.

Unfortunately, we receive a surprising number of unnecessary calls, which clog up the system and delay responses for those in real need. Some examples include complaints about fast-food orders, requests for lost remote controls, and even enquiries about celebrity gossip.

Here are some unexpected examples of emergency calls that, in reality, were far from urgent:

• Cambridgeshire Police received calls from individuals asking for assistance with homework and even placing requests for fast food.
• Gloucestershire Police were dialled on 999 over a spilled cup of coffee and grievances about car wash employees.
• Hertfordshire Constabulary had a caller seeking nothing more than a phone number for a taxi service.

Police urge the public to pause and consider before calling – if the issue isn’t police-related, it could be taking time away from someone in distress. Let’s keep the lines open for those who truly need help and ensure our emergency services can focus on keeping communities safe.

Many police forces now offer digital contact options, making it easier for people to get the help they need without picking up the phone.

Police.uk provides a range of services to help people report crimes, seek support, and access policing information. Here are some key services available:

• Reporting Crimes – You can report incidents such as theft, fraud, domestic abuse, hate crimes, and missing persons online.
• Advice & Support – The site offers guidance on staying safe, dealing with crime, and understanding your rights.
• Local Policing Information – Find out about crime rates, policing teams, and safety initiatives in your area.
• Performance & Statistics – Access data on police effectiveness and crime trends across the UK.
• StreetSafe – A tool that allows people to highlight areas where they feel unsafe, helping police improve public safety.

The Police.UK app, available on Google Play and the iOS App Store, makes reporting crime and accessing vital policing information easier than ever. Whether you want to track local crime trends, find practical safety advice for your home, or stay updated on your local police team’s activities, the app puts essential services at your fingertips. Any contact made through the app is handled by the same trained professionals who manage 101 calls, ensuring consistent and reliable support.

Additional investment in science and technology could mean an extra 41,000 hours of police time available every day across England and Wales to be reinvested in neighbourhood policing and preventing crime. 

Police chiefs are calling for the government to allocate circa £220 million to science and technology per year over the three-year spending review period to scale up tested science and technology capabilities.  

As police chiefs set out their strategy for use of data and digital technology over the next five years, they make the case for government investment to enable police to roll out   technology that has been successfully trialled across England and Wales. 

The independent Policing Productivity Review of forces in England and Wales reported examples of science and technology driving productivity. The Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser to Policing estimates that these projects saved 347,656 of workforce hours per year and led to direct savings of £8.2 million a year in costs. If they were scaled nationally, and similar gains were made in all 43 forces, potentially up to 15 million hours, worth £370m per year, could be saved and reallocated each year. 

National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said:  

“A decade with very limited capital investment into policing has meant prioritising maintaining existing technology over innovation. The vast majority of police force technology budgets are spent on ageing systems and simply keeping the lights on. This has to change. 

“Criminals are investing in technology to do harm; we need to invest to keep up and stop them.   

“With government investment in the spending review, we are ready to roll out technology which could save millions of hours, finish investigations in days instead of months and keep pace with criminal advancements.   

“Without investment, we will fall behind rather than become more productive.  We will not be able to restore neighbourhood policing.  Halving violence against women and girls and knife crime will become much harder to reach targets.” 

 A refreshed National Policing Digital Strategy 2025-2030 developed by NPCC, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) working with Police Digital Service (PDS) has also been published today.  It sets out police digital and data ambitions and the roadmap to achieving them. This supports the NPCC’s Science and Technology Strategy published in May 2023. 

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Lead for Digital, Data and Technology Chief Constable Rob Carden, said: “Over the last decade, digital technology and data and analytics have become integral to policing’s ability to deliver an effective and efficient service and policing will spend nearly £2 billion on it in the next financial year. Policing must change the way we approach data, digital and technology to ensure we invest in solutions which can be used nationally across all police forces.  

“The National Policing Digital Strategy will provide the direction, purpose and roadmap necessary for forces to enable the changes required. Working towards common goals, which can be upscaled at pace nationally to ensure we are making the savings in time and money in order to help our officers catch criminals and protect the public using data, digital and technology in the most effective way. 

“One of our key ambitions is to give local communities more convenient ways to get in touch with their local force through improving things such as websites and apps, whilst developing a range self-service digital engagement channels that anyone is able to use and access. 

“Transparency, fairness and ethical standards will be at the heart of all we implement.”

Examples of investment: 

• Roll out Live Face Recognition units.  On average, throughout 2024, there were 60 arrests per month across the three forces currently using Live Facial Recognition, of which a quarter involved registered sex offenders. Live Facial Recognition reduces the time spent on investigations, ultimately meaning swifter justice. 
   

• Roll out Rapid Video Response –  a video call software that offers a discreet, quick and specialist police response to non-urgent reports of domestic abuse. Developed by Kent Police, it has led to a decrease in the average response time from 32 hours to just three minutes, and a 50% increase in arrests. 
   

• Complete build of a new national digital forensics’ platform. Checking digital devices for evidence takes a lot of police time. A national digital forensics’ platform will help officers to process evidence on digital devices more quickly, return devices faster and make the process less intrusive for victims. This will help to address the current backlog of around 25,000 devices and keep pace with digital crime, which is growing 29 per cent annually.  
   

• Enable the public to contact the police in the way that suits them best including adding services like AI-powered assistances and online case tracking, which in turn will reduce wait times for 101 or 999. 
   

• Developing data and digital capability to catch offenders and protect victims.  This includes creation of a national Data and Analytics Office, which will lead improvements in data quality, compliance and sharing across the criminal justice system.  Continued investment in analytical capability will exploit this data, enabling, e.g. predictive tooling for multi-agency risk assessments and geo-spatial analyses to identify and address unsafe spaces. To date, this work has saved around £1m p.a. per force in productive time, by enabling efficient officer deployment, while early ANPR journey analysis has quadrupled drugs seizures.  
   
• Funding a national Continuous Integrity Screening capability to provide ongoing detection of unacceptable behaviour from officers and staff and the removal of those who pose a risk. 
• Expanding our regional centres for Robotic Process Automation.  In the three regions where it is deployed, automation is securing a return on investment of £8 in time saving for every £1 spent, covering 150 different administrative and crime management processes in relation to crime management and admin processes. Its national deployment will ultimately reduce administrative burden on frontline officers.  

• Roll out nationally video and text redaction tools, automatic translation capabilities, summarisation tooling, and new deepfake detection capabilities.  Recent trials suggest these tools will offer significant time efficiencies and a better quality of service, with text redaction alone estimated to save around 1 million hours of workforce time, estimated at £16m a year.  

• Fund the police service’s Aviation Pathway Programme will consider use of  Unmanned Arial Systems (i.e., drones). in investigations, surveillance and, to emergency response; improving service and reducing costs.  

Latest research from the University of Birmingham and University Sheffield has demonstrated a clear link to increased economic growth and prosperity from investment in policing. Investment in policing, including technology investment, can lead to reduced demand on other parts of the public sector, level the playing field for companies who have to absorb the costs of crime, and reduce the need for the public to spend money as a consequence of crime. 

For example the relationship between house prices and crime reduction shows that each £1 invested in policing yields £4.17 in economic benefits. Based on this, a 10% increase in policing i.e. around £1.7bn per year, will generate £14.5 billion in net benefits over twelve years, equivalent to 0.5% of annual GDP. Find out more in Issue 2 of Policing Tomorrow.

Police chiefs have been reviewing the implications of last month’s UK Supreme Court judgment in relation to the scope of the Equality Act on sex and gender.

Police chiefs have been reviewing the implications of last month’s UK Supreme Court judgment in relation to the scope of the Equality Act on sex and gender.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has today (Thursday) published draft interim guidance on searches of members of the transgender community, as well as searches carried out by transgender police officers and staff.

It makes clear that thorough police searches, such as those which expose intimate body parts, should be carried out by police officers and staff of the same biological sex as the detained person.

There may be very limited exceptions considered where someone requests to be searched by an officer of their gender.

The guidance is explicit that any search not conducted in line with biological sex must have the written consent of the detainee, the officer carrying out the search as well as the authorising officer.

The guidance has been circulated to every police force in the country.

The interim guidance is based on legal advice and has been developed after seeking views across policing as well as those of other agencies.

It reflects working practice which already happens every day across policing, where officers and detainees make requests about searches for a multitude of reasons.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the NPCC, said: “Our aim has been to implement the Supreme Court judgment in a pragmatic and consistent way across policing.

“We have moved at pace to develop this interim guidance, as it is important that officers and staff have guidance on how searches should be conducted in light of the Supreme Court ruling.

“We are keen to work with the Home Office to consider the impact of the Supreme Court decision on legislation and help ensure there is consistency and clarity for policing and our partners.

“We understand the depth of feeling there is on these issues, both among transgender communities as well as those who hold gender critical views. Policing remains committed to treating everyone with fairness, dignity and respect.”

NPCC, in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), have funded £4.5 million to launch nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs) in October 2025.

Working closely with Forces, the P-ACEs will drive collaboration among academia and policing. They will ensure that policing is shaped by the latest and best scientific expertise, and that the UK’s leading researchers are able to challenge and innovate in partnership with policing as together we strive to improve public safety.

Each Policing Academic Centre of Excellence will be promoted across the policing sector as an accessible source of leading academic experts aligned with Policing’s Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) and evidence needs. The P-ACEs will support policing with adopting new technologies, developing new tools and techniques, improving training and skills, and increasing public safety.

Professor Paul Taylor, Police Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

 “Academia and policing have a long history of collaborative working on issues as diverse as forensic science, crime prevention, and analytical technologies. The P-ACEs will fortify this connection, providing a focal point for research and knowledge exchange.

I’m particularly excited about what the P-ACEs can bring to early career scientists who are interested in tackling the complex challenge of keeping the UK public safe. The P-ACE community will, I hope, provide them more opportunities and greater support as we look to forge deep and lasting partnerships over the next decade.”

Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), said:

“The Policing Academic Centres of Excellence will forge closer relationships between police forces and researchers, providing the police with data and evidence to make the justice system work better. By bringing experts in policing practice together with social scientists and data scientists across the country, the centres will provide knowledge and insights to drive service improvement. These centres of excellence demonstrate our commitment to reducing crime and making Britain a safer place.”

The two key functions of the P-ACEs are to:

• mobilise, showcase and make accessible to policing key insights, findings and outputs from their work
• respond to the evidence needs, questions and problems raised by policing and work with policing to co-develop new research and knowledge exchange activities

The following universities have been selected to be P-ACEs:

• Edinburgh Napier University, with Glasgow Caledonian University, University of St Andrews and University of Edinburgh
• Lancaster University
• Manchester Metropolitan University, with University of Manchester
• Nottingham Trent University
• University College London
• University of Bath
• University of Birmingham, with Aston University and University of Leicester
• University of Leeds, with University of York
• University of Portsmouth

For updates about the P-ACEs visit: Policing Academic Centres of Excellence

We welcome today’s His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) final report on last summer’s disorder, which rightly recognises the bravery and professionalism of officers who acted decisively to protect communities and restore order. This was a successful operation, despite the complexity of events.

Since the summer, 1,840 arrests have been made, with 1,103 individuals charged, reinforcing policing’s commitment to justice.

The report fails to accurately assess policing’s role in countering harmful online content. It overlooks the reality that law enforcement cannot and should not regulate social media, placing unrealistic expectations on policing while ignoring the critical responsibility of platform providers and regulators. Without robust detection, moderation, and removal of false narratives, misinformation will continue to fuel unrest unchecked.

Policing cannot function effectively when digital platforms allow harmful content to spread without consequence. The lack of accountability in the report undermines the broader need for a multi-agency response to misinformation and disorder.

Public education also has a critical role to play. Equipping communities with the tools to assess online content critically must be a shared effort across government, tech companies, and civil society. Tackling misinformation requires a coordinated, multi-sector approach.

We note the Inspectorate’s concerns about national debriefing. However, policing has already conducted multiple operational debriefs, covering both intelligence and crime, with extensive feedback gathered across forces. These insights, alongside HMICFRS recommendations, are being taken forward under NPCC leadership.

Policing is advancing innovative technology solutions to enhance monitoring of misinformation and disinformation, building on social listening platforms used during the disorder. Strengthening collaboration with the Cabinet Office, we are now more closely integrated across government and policing to improve coordination.

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee has expanded the capacity for force neighbourhood teams to engage more effectively with their communities. Additionally, we have been developing advanced technology to better assess real-time public sentiment through enhanced community tensions monitoring.

Policing will continue working with partners to implement these recommendations decisively, ensuring a proactive and resilient approach to disorder prevention while maintaining our commitment to public safety.

Chief Constable BJ Harrington is the NPCC Lead for Operations and the former Gold Commander of Operation Navette. He said:

“We appreciate the Inspectorate’s dedication in engaging with representatives from across policing and for recognising the professionalism and bravery demonstrated by our officers and staff during an extremely challenging period. The commitment of frontline officers to maintaining public safety, often in the face of significant personal risk, deserves acknowledgment, and we are pleased to see this reflected in the report.

“The assertion that no debrief took place does not reflect the extensive review work that has been undertaken since the events last summer. In response to the disorder, policing conducted national debriefs covering both intelligence and crime, ensuring key insights were gathered and shared across forces. These debriefs, convened by the College of Policing and individual forces, allowed policing to review its approach, strengthen intelligence-sharing, and refine operational strategies.

“We welcome the Inspectorate’s recommendations and we’ll continue working with partners to refine and improve our response to fast-moving and unpredictable disorder. However, it is important to recognise the broader role of communications in operational success and ensure a more comprehensive approach to tackling misinformation.”

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens is Chair of the NPCC. He added:

“Following the events of last summer, it was right that policing was questioned and scrutinised, and we recognise the Inspectorate’s role in that process.

“However, a more balanced assessment is needed, particularly regarding policing’s role in tackling misinformation and disinformation. While there are lessons to learn, it is crucial to acknowledge that law enforcement does not – and should not – regulate online content. Responsibility for ensuring information is accurate and does not fuel harm lies with those posting it, platform providers and regulatory bodies.

“The report states that policing has “no proper answer” for tackling misinformation and disinformation, but the issue extends far beyond law enforcement. No public sector organisation or body responsible for public safety is fully equipped to address the scale and complexity of the problem. Policing alone cannot be expected to lead or resolve this volatile challenge; it requires a coordinated, cross government approach. This reality must be acknowledged.

“The report did not fully recognise the successes of the media strategy, particularly in delivering behaviour change and deterrence messaging, which are essential in countering rapidly spreading false narratives that can incite disorder.  I pay tribute to colleagues in local policing and communications, who worked tirelessly with media colleagues to ensure accurate information, and the consequences of involvement in violent disorder, were widely known and understood.

“A proactive communication model is needed, one that enables policing to engage directly with communities, providing accurate and timely information without overreliance on traditional media. However, achieving this requires resources that policing simply does not currently have, as financial pressures continue to mount.

“Strengthening intelligence alone is not enough to mitigate the risks posed by misinformation. A comprehensive approach is required – one that incorporates education during peacetime, stronger regulatory oversight, and independent messaging strategies extending beyond policing.

“We remain committed to learning from these events, refining our approach, and ensuring policing is prepared, resilient, and proactive in facing future challenges.”

Notes to editors

The national policing response launched by NPCC – Operation Navette – was created to provide effective national coordination for the planning and response to demonstrations and disorder, as well as engagement and communication with forces, government and key national stakeholders. This included:

• A national Gold group established and led by the NPCC Public Order and Public Safety Lead.
• An intelligence coordination group led by the NPCC Intelligence Lead.
• The activation of the national mobilisation plan and the development of national strategic public order research, with NPoCC assuming a central coordination function for all public order assets across the country.

Offenders brought to justice responsible for £8m of thefts

• National intelligence unit sees 148 arrests in first year of operation 

• 50% reduction in offending from organised crime groups identified 
• Retailers praise dedication of team in affecting criminal justice outcomes  

A national policing intelligence unit set up in partnership with retailers to tackle organised retail crime has been operational one year (1 May) and continues to reap results, identifying and bringing to justice crime groups responsible for £8m financial impact of offending.  

Funded by the Home Office and the Pegasus Partnership (a collaboration between retailers and policing coordinated by CC Amanda Blakeman and PCC Katy Bourne), the team within Opal (policing’s national intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime) collects and develops intelligence around organised retail crime from retailers and police forces.  

Since 1 May 2024, the team has received 153 referrals from retailers and police forces across England and Wales with 313 offenders and 105 linked vehicles identified as a result. Action taken following a referral can range from simply identifying an individual or vehicle right through to a complex investigation of an organised criminal network. 37 operations have been adopted from referrals totalling nearly 5,000 offences nationwide (4,710) with 148 arrests to date and 33 court outcomes resulting in custodial sentences and deportations where the offenders are foreign nationals.  

Of the organised crime groups identified and monitored through Opal’s work, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in offending since 1 May 2024, demonstrating a clear impact in disrupting these high harm offenders and networks.1  

The Pegasus Partnership was set up in October 2023 to bring policing and retailers together in tackling shop theft through improved information sharing, best practice and upskilling. A number of high profile convictions include; three offenders responsible for over 100 crimes nationwide brought to justice by Surrey Police and Opal, an individual who stole more than £50,000 worth of goods from Boots stores across the country investigated by South Wales Police and an offender who worked across 16 police force areas to steal high value electricals and perfumes who was convicted by Devon and Cornwall Police.  

Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman is National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for volume crime. She said: 

“Partnership and collaboration is vital in our fight against retail crime, policing cannot do this alone and through Pegasus we have built strong relationships and information sharing which enables us to target resources where they are most needed.  

“Without the national intelligence coordination from Opal’s highly skilled team, many of these offenders brought to justice over the last year may never have been identified or at the very least, the huge scale of their offending may not have been identified. And in a lot of cases, the scale and level of offending is what has led to the most significant court outcomes.  

“I’d like to thank the retailers and Government for their commitment to making the partnership the success it so clearly is and we look forward to seeing our collective impact continue.”  

Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services at Mitie said:  

“We’re proud to have supported the formation of Pegasus and despite only being a year the results are overwhelming. Through technology and collaboration, Pegasus is joining the dots between retailers and the police to secure appropriate outcomes for offenders and in turn drive safer communities across the UK.  

“The financial impact of retail crime is only one piece of the puzzle and what the figures don’t show is the psychological impact of the current situation on shopworkers, many of whom feel unsafe in their workplace due to threat of attacks. The tide must turn, and this can only happen through effective data sharing agreements between retailers, security and police that leave violent criminals with no place to hide.” 

Katy Bourne is Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner and APCC joint lead for Business and Retail Crime. She said: 

“It was very clear that retailers were suffering from shop theft on an industrial scale and needed results, including a better method to share information and intelligence with police forces nationally.  This is why, one year ago, I convened our Pegasus Partnership – a unique collaboration of the country’s top retailers joining together to fund a specialist policing team and analysts. The results published today, on our first anniversary of operation, speak for themselves and show the power of collaboration, trust and hard work, leading to nearly 150 criminals arrested and put before the courts.  

“I want to acknowledge the support of Chief Constable Blakeman and the OPAL team in galvanising a national police response to shop theft. The Opal team have exceeded the expectations of our Pegasus Partnership and the retailers have seen their investment return valuable results against organised retail crime groups and persistent offenders. 

“As we look ahead, it is evident we have built a well-positioned and strong foundation for tackling organised retail crime gangs and I look forward to seeing these results increase. I am delighted that the Government can see the value too with an additional £5million given to extend OPAL’s capacity. This really is a huge step forwards in the fightback against shop theft that will benefit all retailers up and down our country.” 

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 

“Through concerted police, retailer and government action, we can fight back against the currently unacceptable levels of shop theft blighting our communities.  

“This is why we are providing £5 million pounds over the next three years to continue to support this work, significantly increasing funding and making government the largest financial backer of this initiative.  

“But we can and must go further, which is why I will be discussing with police and retailers at our forthcoming Retail Crime Forum what more we can do to tackle this issue as a whole, targeting not just organised crime gangs and prolific offenders but all perpetrators of shop theft who bring misery to our high streets.  

“And it is why through our Plan for Change we are putting 13,000 neighbourhood officers and PCSOs on the beat in every corner of the country – soon to be equipped with new powers to tackle assaults on shop workers and thefts under £200.” 

Kari Rodgers is UK Retail Director at Primark. She said:  

“Pegasus has been a significant step forward in fostering change and improving safety on our high streets and we welcome the collaboration and intelligence sharing it has facilitated. Our collective job in tackling retail crime is far from over and we remain fully committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow retailers, local police forces and the government to continue driving forward the progress made so far.” 

Ben McDonald is Senior Senior Corporate Protection Manager at Morrisons. He said:  

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Pegasus to keep our communities safe. The partnership provides Morrisons with the opportunity to work closely with the police in order to prioritise organised retail offenders and bring them to justice. We hope this sends out the necessary deterrent to prevent further crime groups from offending.” 

The organised retail crime team within Opal take referrals from retailers of any size, whether or not they are part of the Pegasus Partnership, and will work in a number of different ways to develop intelligence. This could be as simple as identifying an offender, linked offenders and/or vehicles through the Police National Database, looking at patterns of offending and MO’s which are repeated and working with retailers to share information packs about prolific offenders. The team will then support local police forces through an investigation, sharing intelligence, but also working with the Crown Prosecution Service and additional agencies as required.  

Results from the Opal Organised Retail Crime team since 1 May 2024 include: 

• 153 referrals impacting retail businesses, a third of which came from supermarkets.  

• 313 offenders identified 

• Offenders identified responsible for £8m loss to retailers 

• 105 vehicles identified 

• 37 operations (criminal investigations) adopted 

• 1,407 positive outcomes 

• 33 sentences handed out 

• Total custodial sentences for all offenders of over 39 years  

• 128 upskilling sessions run with retailers and retail organisations 

The Home Affairs Committee has published its report into the police response to the 2024 summer disorder.

The report commends police officers and staff for their efforts during last summer’s unrest, despite significant risks and injuries, calling the violence faced unacceptable. It acknowledges systemic challenges stemming from outdated structures and highlights the need for reform, echoing commitments recently made by NPCC Chair Chief Constable Gavin Stephens who has outlined his own vision for a new era of policing.

The Committee’s recommendations, including around national mobilisation and addressing dis and misinformation on social media, are deemed timely and vital for improving policing effectiveness. The report rejects claims of ‘two-tier policing’ and appreciates the complexity of the response to such unprecedented events. The findings will inform ongoing discussions, with further insights expected following the next HMICFRS report.

Chief Constable BJ Harrington is the NPCC Lead for Operations and the former Gold Commander of Operation Navette. He said:

“The report rightly praises the efforts of police officers and staff in responding to the events of last summer, often in the face of very real risk and injury. Nobody should go to work and be physically assaulted, have bricks and petrol bombs thrown at them, and end up in hospital with potentially life-changing injuries. Unfortunately, that is what happened last year, and it was utterly unacceptable.

“Policing leaders are proud of the work our officers, staff and volunteers do and the sacrifice they make to keep people safe. However, the fact that we are working in a system that was designed more than 60 years ago is far from ideal, and this report highlights the need for reform in specific areas, which aligns with the work of the newly founded Police Reform Programme.

“We know that there are number of obstacles, from a policing perspective, that limit effectiveness in policing across the UK, so these recommendations are extremely timely and will inform conversations that we are having with partners.

“The Committee cite previous findings from the Inspectorate that the national mobilisation plan could have been made earlier, and this is a helpful recommendation. Hindsight can be useful, and these learnings are important, but we are pleased that the Committee also recognise how complex of a situation this was for policing to respond to, and that on the whole, the service did so well.

“We are pleased that the report robustly disagrees with the notion of ‘two tier policing’, and that the policing response was entirely appropriate given the levels of violence and criminality that were on display. We are also appreciative of the consideration given to the dangerous of mis and disinformation on social media, which remain substantial areas of risk for policing and something that the Inspectorate have been evaluating as part of their own review into the disorder.

“We will carefully consider all of the Committee’s recommendations, noting that the Government will also be waiting for the publication of the second HMICFRS report later this year in order to ascertain how they can support policing in implementing these collective findings.”

NPCC response following announcement on neighbourhood policing.

Chief Constable Rachel Bacon, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the Local Policing Coordination Committee said: “We welcome the government’s investment into neighbourhood policing. Neighbourhood policing and officers on the street are crucial so that we can connect with the communities we serve. It is a vital part of how we prevent crime and has suffered during prolonged periods of austerity.

“Visibility and engagement with local communities has always been central to the British policing model and police leaders are in agreement that it must always remain at the heart of what we do.

“Forces continue to develop plans to tackle crime in their local neighbourhoods, which will vary depending on various factors such as population, urban or rural and the needs of the local community. Chiefs across England and Wales will take these factors into account, work with partner agencies to ensure communities receive the level of service they expect from policing.

“In every town, village and city across the UK, people want to feel safe where they live, work and raise their families. Safe from anti-social behaviour, safe from shoplifting, and safe from personal robbery. Neighbourhood policing is at the heart of that helping tackle that.

“We welcome the continued investment in hotspot policing and visible targeted patrols, which are the bedrock of community policing, and effective deterrents in detecting and preventing anti-social behaviour and serious violent crime, as well as improving feelings of safety.

“People have a right to live their lives free from intimidation and harassment in their own communities. We know anti-social behaviour has the power to wreck people’s lives and therefore it is important to have a multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour.

“Effective investment in neighbourhood policing and the whole system means investment in stronger communities and safer streets.”