Suspected shoplifters are being sent to court and convicted from CCTV footage alone without being arrested, Northumbria Police has revealed.
Operation Canvas – which is operated by Northumbria Police and NE1 Business Improvement District (BID) - has seen 60 convictions already, with 58 of those pleading guilty.
It has administered £2,700 in fines and £7,700 compensation for retailers, while 118 weeks’ worth of custodial sentences have been handed down.
The scheme has 29 retailers from Newcastle City Centre signed up so far, and only requires good quality CCTV footage that can clearly identify perpetrators and catch them in the offence.
After receiving the footage, police can then fast-track the culprits straight to court, without them being in custody. Suspects receive court summons through the post.
This streamlined approach means that, through working with the Crown Prosecution Service, officers do not need to locate, arrest and interview offenders.
They can instead be summoned to court straight away to face shoplifting charges.
The operation is part of the force's wider tackle on crime around the peak retail and festive season.
Chief Inspector Rob Bosson, of Northumbria Police’s Newcastle Area Command, says the police recognise that reporting crimes can cost businesses through "use of staff time", which can be "a barrier to reporting incidents or supporting prosecutions".
Suspected shoplifters are being sent to court and convicted from CCTV footage alone without being arrested in Newcastle City Centre
| GETTY"Operation Canvas significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to progress a shoplifting case to court, allowing us to deal with more cases at a quicker pace than before," he added.
"Many repeat shoplifters often commit such offences because they believe the risk is low and that it’s worth the reward by stealing goods.
"But criminals who are known to Operation Canvas and continue to offend should expect to be put in front of a judge more often and without us having to speak to them directly.
"They are simply notified of when they are due in court and then are expected to turn up on the day of their hearing."
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said the operation was part of a "whole raft of work" the force is rolling out over the festive period.
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Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said the operation was part of a "whole raft of work" the force is rolling out over the festive period
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"It really demonstrates how working closely with enhanced reporting and intelligence-sharing can help catch offenders and bring them to justice – and this leads to safer streets and stronger communities," she stated.
NE1 represents over 1,300 businesses in the Newcastle City Centre.
Director of Operations, Tariq Albassam, urged more to join the operation that has brought justice to criminals who previously thought they were "untouchable".
He said: "At this time of year, when shoplifting costs businesses dearly, this initiative is a strong weapon in our fight against retail crime.
"Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, and initiatives like this and the successful and speedy convictions send a clear message to offenders that crime in Newcastle won't be tolerated.
"We will continue to work closely with the businesses we represent to urge them to support the initiative."
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