Police crackdown on shoplifting in day of action

Shoplifters in Peterborough were targeted by police on a day of action on Friday

A mix of uniformed and plain-clothed police officers have taken part in a crackdown on shoplifting in a city.

The taskforce from Cambridgeshire Police's Operation Interstellar targeted thieves stealing from businesses in Peterborough.

John Bird, who runs a shop on Rivergate, said he had "never seen it as bad as it has been" over the past 18 months.

Police have recorded 1,872 shoplifting crimes in the city this year. Since launching the campaign on 16 October, 12 people have been sent to prison.

City shopkeeper John Bird now "builds shoplifting into our prices"

Police have made 65 arrests and 44 people have been charged with shoplifting offences.

As well as the city centre, officers patrolled Serpentine Green in Hampton, Maskew Avenue, Brotherhood Shopping Park and Ortongate Centre because they have also been identified as hotspots.

Mr Bird, who runs EJ Greeting Cards, said he was "frustrated but I've just got used to it".

Just before the BBC arrived at his shop he saw someone on the camera taking a pack of cards, he said.

"It's got to the point where we're now building it into our prices, so we're having to up our prices on items and good customers are paying for it," he added.

The city centre's extra police officer PC Jay Cullimore joined the operation

PC Jay Cullimore has been recruited as an extra officer, funded by businesses to tackle city centre crime.

Pep Cipriano, CEO of Peterborough Positive ,the city's Business Improvement District (BID), said: "Shoplifting is a factor all over the country and most cities, but with Jay what he's been able to do is get into businesses and basically hurry along and get these kind of crimes sorted out as quickly as possible."

PC Cullimore joined Friday's crackdown and said: "I've had a couple of good results already where we've had people from [the city centre] who've been arrested and gone into custody hoping we can keep up the good work for the rest of the day."

People had been sent to prison since the operation was launched, said Det Insp Justin Howard

The operation was set up in north Cambridgeshire "to reduce the impact felt by the community at a time when the cost of living is high and particularly in the run up to Christmas", according to Cambridgeshire Police.

Det Insp Justin Howard: "We're seeing men and women of all ages now, because they're finding it difficult to provide for their families so actually with the hard times that have come across all of us ,they're having to go out and unfortunately turn towards crime and stealing from shops.

"Already we're seeing a number of arrests and a number of custodial sentences as a result of Operation Interstella."