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Police attempt Christmas shoplifting crackdown

Jamie Niblock/BBC A man sits in front of a number of CCTV screens. His back is to the camera. It is dark. There are at least 14 screens in front of him.Jamie Niblock/BBC
According to government statistics, recorded shoplifting has increased year-on-year more than any other crime in Norfolk

A police force has said it is cracking down on shoplifting in a Norfolk town in the run up to Christmas.

Norfolk Police has launched Operation Wonderland, which will see officers team up with businesses in King's Lynn and west Norfolk.

The local borough council has a control room of more than 11,000 CCTV feeds, allowing any potential thefts to be seen in real time.

Insp Ben Jarvis from Norfolk Police said: "Without this CCTV... we wouldn't be able to do half of the things we do."

Jamie Niblock/BBC David Morton is stood in a CCTV control room and is looking at the camera. He is wearing a knitted jumper and shirt underneath.Jamie Niblock/BBC
David Morton and his team support the police with the help of 11,000 CCTV feeds

David Morton, the business operations manager for the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, said the team frequently received calls from police asking for help locating suspects.

"They have seen people running down the street with bags and boxes, overfilled bags and things stuffed inside their jackets," he explained.

Jamie Niblock/BBC Insp Ben Jarvis, a Norfolk Police officer. He is standing outside in black and white uniform and is smiling.Jamie Niblock/BBC
Insp Ben Jarvis said the force had seen an increase in reports of shoplifting

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics in July showed that shoplifting reports had increased by 26.3% year-on-year in Norfolk.

The force said it was the biggest spike in any recorded crime in the county, which was in line with the national trend.

Insp Ben Jarvis said the CCTV was "incredibly vital".

"With the aid of the CCTV operators picking those people up at the earliest opportunity, [it] not only gives us a chance to locate the offenders, but also gives us a chance to gather as much property back for the shops.

"I think the increased reports in shoplifting is actually a sign that people are happy we are going to deal with this when they report it."

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