A new reporting platform that allows retailers to send CCTV footage and witness statements directly to police has quadrupled the proportion of shoplifting cases in London that result in a caution, charge or other criminal outcome, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The system was tested for six months across six London boroughs, where retailers could provide evidence to officers almost immediately after a suspected theft. Among cases reported through the platform, 29.4% resulted in a criminal disposal, compared with the Metropolitan Police’s previous average of 7.3%.
The trial involved major retailers including Tesco, Boots, Greggs and Marks & Spencer in Bexley, Greenwich, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham and Westminster.
The Metropolitan Police has now expanded the programme to eight additional boroughs. Retailers participating in the scheme in Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Lambeth, Southwark and Sutton can now use the system, with further expansion planned.
The platform enables retailers to provide CCTV recordings, witness statements and details of stolen goods directly to officers. Police said officers previously could wait 28 days or more for evidence from retailers, potentially delaying investigations and reducing the chances of identifying suspects.
Commander Andy Featherstone said successful shoplifting investigations depend heavily on evidence establishing the identity of the offender, supported by information from the retailer and details of the goods taken.
He said the new system had reduced a process that could previously take months to one that can now move forward within hours.
The Metropolitan Police also reported broader improvements in its response to retail crime. Shoplifting reports across London fell by 3.7% during the last financial year, representing around 3,500 fewer offences. Arrests for retail crime increased by almost 50%, while positive outcomes more than doubled from 2,682 to 5,996.
London has previously recorded more shoplifting offences than any other UK police area, with more than 215,000 cases recorded between 2019 and 2024, according to police data.
The new platform is part of a wider effort by the Metropolitan Police to use technology to tackle retail crime. The force began using facial recognition technology in 2023 to compare CCTV images of suspected prolific shoplifters with custody photographs.
Retailers have also introduced their own security measures, including body-worn cameras for staff working in stores.
The British Independent Retail Association welcomed the new reporting system but warned that smaller businesses could struggle to access similar technology.
Chief executive Andrew Goodacre said the development was positive but noted that independent retailers often lack the resources and technology available to major chains.
The Metropolitan Police said the expanded programme would allow more retailers to submit evidence quickly and improve the speed of investigations across London.
