The Northampton Retail Crime Initiative is keen to educate young people about the consequences of shop theft. The NRCI has already worked with partners and schools to get our message across. We can visit schools, youth groups or individuals to explain the consequences of shop theft and answer questions related to this subject. We currently work with the Northampton Youth Offending Team (YOT). The YOT includes police officers, the probation service, social services and representatives from other organisations. Their job is to deal with young offenders in the community, and help them address their offending behaviour. The NRCI has assisted the YOT in a number of cases typically involving older teenagers. In 2008 the NRCI has commenced a new project whereby any young person who receives an Informal Action from the Police in relation to retail crime will be visited at home. The NRCI will speak to the young person and their family in an effort to ensure the offence is not repeated.

Over 500 CCTV cameras cover the shopping areas of Northampton. Store detectives, hidden cameras, members of the public, security officers, shop staff and undercover police are all keeping an eye out for shoplifters.

The chances of being caught stealing are very high in Northampton. Loss Prevention Officers in stores routinely check their CCTV camera footage to identify offenders. If a person gets away with stealing something one day he or she may still be caught once the CCTV footage has been reviewed. Offenders are identified and arrested by the Police weeks and even months after the original incident.

If you are a young person and steal from a shop you will be arrested and interviewed by the Police.

In certain circumstances the Police have powers to search your home after arrest for evidence.

You could end up with a Criminal Record. This may affect your future employment opportunities. A Criminal Record can also affect your ability to travel abroad to certain countries. You might even have to change those plans for a school trip, family holiday or new job.

You may be served with an Exclusion Order by the Northampton Retail Crime Initiative. The Order bans you from entering over 150 stores in Northampton. These stores include not only large national supermarkets but also smaller local shops.

Some points for discussion on the consequences or reasons for shoplifting with young people might include:

Bullying – peer pressure to steal
Stress – on shop staff, family, the young person
Employment – their own future opportunity for employment/shop staff giving up work due to financial losses
Increased costs – stock loss/insurance premiums/security/alarms
Effect on economy – public perception about ‘bad’ towns to go shopping in or concerns about personal safety/new shops not being attracted to Northampton
Drugs/alcohol – stealing to fund these addictions
Advertising – material wealth/ ‘want it now’ culture/social pressure to have the best
Misconceptions – that shoplifting is a victimless crime & no one is affected
Criminal Record – affect travel/opportunities for employment
Exclusion Order – banned from entering over 150 stores
Self esteem / life long label of being a thief

For more information on our work with young people contact the NRCI direct.

Additional information may be found on
www.northants.police.uk/kidz&teenz or www.thamesvalley.police.uk/underzone and their various links.

Youth Posters

This set of posters have been specially designed to appeal to young people with the serious message about the consequences of being caught stealing from shops.

You can view them in pdf format by clicking on the images below. If you would like a set of the posters please contact the NRCI.

Please remember you will require Adobe Acrobat reader to view these posters.

Download the latest version of Adobe® Acrobat™ reader here. www.adobe.com