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Eighteen people were arrested and charged for shoplifting offences in Corby as part of the Northamptonshire Police seasonal campaign Operation Lapland, which aimed to tackle and reduce crime in the run up to and over the Christmas period.
Led by the Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team, the operation focused on the town centre and other shopping areas across Corby, targeting the crimes which historically rise over the festive period, such as shoplifting, theft and robbery.
During the operation, which ran from the end of November to the New Year, neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs carried out extensive high visibility patrols in the town centre and Phoenix Parkway, as well as additional patrols at local shopping centres across the wider Corby area.
Corby Neighbourhood Policing Inspector, Paul Cash, said: “The team worked hard to send a clear message to criminals that their offending would not be tolerated and the busy Christmas period did not mean they would go unnoticed.
“We know how important it is to the public to see police officers on patrol, and I am pleased we were able to provide this reassurance through our increased patrols and engagement with both the public and the retail community.
“While Operation Lapland saw a specific focus over the festive period, with increased patrols and a focus on persistent offenders, our efforts to tackle retail theft in particular have been ongoing over recent months.
“Neighbourhood officers and PCSOs have been working closely with local retailers, the Corby Retail Crime Initiative and other partners, as part of the Force’s retail crime initiative Operation Elegance*. With closer links and greater sharing of information, we are better able to support stores through their reporting processes and quickly gather the evidence needed.
“This has led to an increase in arrests and during the period of the operation 18 people were charged with shoplifting offences, some of whom have already been convicted and given custodial sentences. This has contributed to a significant reduction in recorded shop theft between October and the end of December 2023. We also saw a fall in robberies and reports of violence across the town centre.
“Feedback has been very positive, with retailers and shoppers alike welcoming the increased visible presence during December. We will continue to work closely with our partners into 2024 to further tackle crime and offending in the Corby area.”
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