Priority Reviewed and agreed Feb 2025

Small local shops and large retailers/supermarkets lose hundreds to thousands of pounds every week due to theft, which is a major problem across the country.

The quality of CCTV systems have improved considerably in recent years and many shops employ part time/full time security guards to deter any potential opportunists, however this does not stop the most prolific offenders.

Town Centre NPT have been working with local retailers and analysing crime data, which led to identification of top 5 most prolific shoplifters affecting businesses not only in the Town Centre area, but across whole of Weston super Mare.

Investigation into offences committed by these individuals is ongoing as well as background work with local Anti Social Behaviour Team in order to compile evidence package towards ASB interventions available to police disposal in an attempt to tackle their prolific offending.

4 out of the top 5 prolific shoplifters are currently in prison after being charged and convicted of multiple theft offences.
Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team have turned the attention to a new top 5 list. Work is already ongoing with the local ASB Team on a variety of interventions to better control their prolific offending.

There has been a spike in reporting of youth related anti-social behaviour from the local businesses and residents in Town Centre area of Weston super Mare.

Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team have been conducting high visibility patrols in the affected areas and following up with the local businesses and North Somerset CCTV. 18 individuals have already been formally identified and partner agencies engaged to determine the plan going forward, so that their behaviour can be addressed.

Further work is ongoing and will include collaboration between North Somerset Community Response, Children Social Services and Youth Offending Service, as well as following up with children's parents to make sure they are aware of their children's whereabouts and incidents they are involved in.

Additional resources for high visibility patrols, through Operation HOLD (hot spot policing to tackle anti-social behaviour), have already been secured and there will be more officers patrolling the streets of Weston Town Centre over the next 3 weeks.

On 16/06/2025 North Somerset Neighbourhood directorate has welcomed a new addition to our policing family. 8 police constables and 1 sergeant have joined a newly created Neighbourhood Tasking Team. This is a significant boost to the NPT numbers and these officers will be carrying out additional high visibility patrols and dealing with issues that affect our communities the most.
As part of the new programme focussing on Keeping Town Centres Safe this Summer they will aim to drive down street crime, shop theft and anti-social behaviour in Weston and Portishead Town Centres.
 
Say hello if you see them out and about and report any policing issues you may be facing.