Op Continents: Community action targeting retail crime in Spalding

At the start of Neighbourhood Policing Week on Monday (15 June), Spalding’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) carried out a community operation to target prolific shop theft offenders. 

The activity [and video below] also underscored the work NPTs do to protect community safety not only by ensuring those who break the law are held to account but also by linking in with partners for the safety and protection of others. As part of the operation, officers visited various locations across Spalding known to be frequented by prolific offenders which led to linking in with the Homeless Outreach team, and other partners.  

As part of their work, 40-year-old Marcus Kitching of Tawny Road, Spalding, has been charged with theft and a breach of a previously issued Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO); he is due to appear in court on 1 July.  

Forty-four-year-old Sarah McCourt, of no fixed address, has been charged with four counts of theft and four CBO breaches. She was sentenced to 12-weeks imprisonment due her ‘wilful and persistent failure to comply with the community order’.  

CBOs are court orders designed to prevent individuals who have been convicted of an offence from engaging in further antisocial or criminal behaviour. Breaching a CBO is a criminal offence and can result in escalating penalties, including fines or imprisonment. 

Spalding has experienced ongoing issues with a number of prolific shoplifters. Shop theft has a wide-reaching impact on communities, extending far beyond the immediate loss of goods. 

During a visit to one homeless encampment officers identified significant safety concerns affecting both the public and those currently occupying the site. We are not disclosing this location but we'll continue to link in with various agencies and partners to ensure any vulnerabilities are appropriately safeguarded and we will continue to tackle any criminality associated with the site.  

Long-term problem solving  

Neighbourhood Policing Teams frequently work on longer-term problem-solving matters, working in partnership with local outreach services, the Environment Agency, housing providers and other agencies. They play a key role in addressing a broad spectrum of community challenges to develop long-term solutions that tackle root causes, reduce harm and respond effectively to community concerns. 

NPT Sergeant Callum Corder said:

Operations like this demonstrate our commitment to tackling issues of community concern head-on. We have a number of prolific offenders impacting the town, and we are working closely with partners to protect businesses, support staff and customers, and hold those responsible to account. 

Shop theft is not a victimless crime, and we are determined to ensure it does not go unchecked. Persistent offending places significant pressure on local businesses and can even threaten their viability, potentially threatening access to essential goods on our high streets over time.  Instances of theft can make people feel unsafe and undermine public confidence, even where overall crime levels remain stable for the district. That is simply not acceptable.

We also recognise the wider impact on our communities. The anti-social behaviour of those who commit such crimes has a knock-on effect on residents, shoppers, and those visiting the town. We continue to work tirelessly to keep our community safe.