Opal has reported significant progress in tackling organised shop theft.
The national intelligence unit focuses on serious organised acquisitive crime where there is a series of offences impacting two or more police force areas. In May of this year Opal set up a dedicated organised retail crime team to tackle shop theft.
Opal reported that arrests only impacted four forces in Q2 compared to 18 in Q1, which marks a 90% reduction.
It found that its efforts led to the identification of 83 previously unknown individuals targeting 19 retailers, across 29 forces.
The Organised Retail Crime Q2 report covered the period April to July 2024 - despite the Opal ‘Organised Retail Crime’ team officially launching on 1 May.
Over the three-month period, Opal cumulated 15 arrests of those involved in organised shop theft, impacting at least eight businesses.
In Q2, the unit supported 38 businesses and organisations impacting 44 forces.
In May, Opal warned over the sophistication of organised crime gangs operating across the country.
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