Traders doubt police moves against shoplfiting

Christopher Charley said he had to remain vigilant to catch shoplifters

"I don't trust the police to help me with shoplifting... you don't really expect them to actually do a lot these days, which is a shame to say."

Christopher Charley, who runs a perfume and cosmetics stall in Coventry city centre, is so far unimpressed with West Midlands Police's initiative to reduce crime, including shop theft, with an increased police presence.

The Safer Streets programme was rolled out nationwide by the Home Secretary and will continue in Coventry until the end of September.

It was created in response to "record levels of shop theft", according to the Home Office, with the crime up by more than 60% between December 2022 and December 2024.

However, Mr Charley said: "I could not remember the last time I've actually seen a police officer walk through here that wasn't going to get lunch."

West Midlands Police said tens of officers were sent to high streets every day

He said that shoplifting was a "horrific problem" in the city centre, with culprits "literally doing whatever they want to do".

"We're all small independent businesses, we can't suffer the losses like a big chain can, so when we do lose stuff it really is much harder for us to recoup it or recover from it," he added.

The businessman added his confidence in the police to tackle the issue was low.

"On the last two instances, there was no point in really contacting the police. You wouldn't have thought they were going to turn up even if you did get hold of somebody."

His sentiment was shared by fellow trader - hat shop owner Mike Cassity - who accused the police of being apathetic to shoplifting.

He said: "I've rung them on many occasions and they just don't bother turning up."

A charity shop on Trinity Street had this rock thrown through their window

The problem also extends to charity shops - with volunteers telling the BBC that they had been targeted as well.

Dennis Crunden, from a Mary Ann Evans Hospice shop, said that in addition to dealing with clothes thieves, there were also more serious incidents.

"A couple of weeks ago, somebody actually got a big rock, and when my manager got in on the Monday morning, it was through the bottom pane of the window.

He surmised that it was so someone could try to steal the store's money.

"We've all sort of been a bit, not traumatised by it, but trying to wonder why would somebody do that?"

Debbie Hope is the relief manager at a Myton Hospices shop and said it was "scary" sometimes, when shoplifters became violent.

"But what can we do? We just have to take it as we see it," she said.

She added that shoplifting was particularly frustrating for them because their stores are non-profit, and use their takings for a good cause.

What are police doing?

West Midlands Police said it was working "incredibly closely" with the local authority, the businesses community and others to tackle the problems.

Coventry's police commander, Ch Supt Paul Joyce, said people could expect an increase in police patrols in the town centre.

He added that in the first month of the Safer Streets Initiative, which began on 30 June, 37 people had been arrested.

"This initiative is just a small part of what we're doing to try and restore confidence and re-instil some order back to our town centres."

"This is just an intensified period throughout the summer," he said.

Paul Joyce said that the Safer Streets Initiative coincided with higher town centre footfall in the summer months

He denied that the police were apathetic to shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, and said it was "absolutely not true" they were seen as less important.

Responding to claims the force did not always turn up promptly to shoplifting incidents, he said that every decision was based on whatever "the threat, risk, and harm is at that time".

He hoped people would begin to notice a difference with extra patrols.

"I would urge the public to work with us. I hope that they can observe us at our absolute best within our town centres and high streets, delivering a police service that they deserve.

"Tell us, call us, contact us about things that are happening, and we will do everything within our power to react, respond, and deal with it very robustly."