Angela welcomed the growing use of cutting-edge technology to tackle retail crime and improve safety for shop workers across Tameside and beyond.
During a visit to Marks & Spencer at Ashton Moss to look at the work of Auror, a crime intelligence platform used by major retailers and police forces, Angela praised the role of innovation and partnership in addressing the rise in shop theft, violence and organised retail crime.
Auror enables shop staff to securely record incidents and share information directly with police, helping to identify repeat offenders and uncover patterns of organised criminal activity that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The platform is already used by leading retailers including Tesco, Boots, Currys, Morrisons and Home Bargains as well as thousands of law enforcement agencies worldwide.
New data from Greater Manchester shows the scale and seriousness of the issue:
- 1 in 12 incidents are violent or involve weapons
- 1 in 7 incidents involve threatening or aggressive behaviour
- Repeat offenders are around three times more likely to be violent
Major organised offenders have been linked to dozens of offences across multiple regions, with some cases involving tens of thousands of pounds in theft
The impact of the technology is already being felt. Marks & Spencer reports that 9 out of 10 staff feel safer at work using Auror, alongside a significant reduction in violence and aggression in stores.
Angela said: “Shop workers should never have to go to work fearing for their safety, yet far too many are facing violence, abuse and intimidation on a daily basis.
“That’s why it’s so important we support practical solutions that help police and retailers work together more effectively to tackle crime and bring repeat offenders to justice.
“By using technology to identify patterns, target the most harmful individuals and share information quickly, we can make our high streets safer for workers, businesses and communities alike.
“This kind of partnership working is exactly what we need to crack down on organised retail crime and ensure offenders are held accountable.”
Nationally, just 10% of offenders are responsible for around 70% of retail crime, with repeat offenders significantly more likely to be violent. Auror helps police prioritise these high-harm individuals, improving charge rates and speeding up investigations.
Paul Fagg, Auror Director of Law Enforcement Partnerships UK & Ireland said:
“UK retailers like M&S are doing a fantastic job in coming together with other retailers within the Auror Network to surface the full scale and severity of the retail crime problem we’re up against.
“For retailers and police, using technology is a game-changer. They can deal with high volume crime at scale, connect what would previously be considered one-off crime events and use that insight to focus precious resources on the top 10 per cent of offenders causing the most harm within communities.
“These retail crime insights help retailers make informed decisions to keep their people safe, while also identifying the highest harm, violent and prolific offenders.
“Digital collaboration also reduces the time police spend manually taking reports, collecting evidence, and investigating an individual’s full breadth of offending. One UK police force has achieved a 10 per cent higher charge rate through Auror reports and can process retail crime reports 47 hours faster on average.”
Auror’s mission is to reduce violent retail crime by 50% within five years, supporting safer communities, fewer victims and a more coordinated, intelligence-led approach to policing.