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.

Another prolific shoplifter has been recently arrested and remanded for Court  He will be appearing at North Somerset Magistrates Court later  this month for sentencing, other interventions are being explored
Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team officers continue working closely with our local businesses, North Somerset CCTV staff, probation officers as well as Business Improvement District to tackle the business crime in the area.

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.

The Town centre team continue to tackle youth related anti-social behaviour and nuisance vehicles
Since the last update :

vehicle seized for no insurance/tax
Arrested an offender for numerous offences which are still under investigation
Since the 15th July – 4 additional warning letters have been written and delivered to parents/guardians – they have not come to notice since

Police will not tolerate ASB/criminality. Those involved will be dealt with robustly, partner agencies and parents notified.