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Stirling’s retailers are invited to an intelligence briefing to discuss crime trends and techniques in a bid to tackle the scourge of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
The meeting, hosted by Retailers Against Crime (RAC) and Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District (BID), takes place in the Golden Lion Hotel on King Street at 9.30am next Tuesday July 15.
It is the first of three themed crime intelligence briefings aimed at highlighting current shoplifting trends and seeking solutions to deal with the ongoing rise in retail crime.
The briefings will be delivered by crime fighting experts from RAC and officers from Police Scotland while representatives from Stirling Council and other key stakeholders will also be in attendance.
Go Forth’s Community Engagement and Business Improvement Officer Fiona McMillan said: “As your BID, we are committed to tackling issues of crime and anti-social behaviour in Stirling and to support this, we are introducing a series of crime Intelligence briefings to look at current trends and explore potential solutions and we invite the city’s business community to join us.
“This is an opportunity to learn from crime prevention experts at RAC on ways to combat shoplifting and find out more about the techniques currently being used by persistent offenders.
“It’s also a chance to share your own experiences and highlight your concerns so please come along to the sessions and let us and our partners know what’s happening on the ground so we can all work together to fight retail crime.”
The briefing will provide details of the most active shoplifting suspects, cover crime trends and show footage of the current methods being used to commit crime in Stirling.
It will also give an insight into RAC’s SentrySIS crime-fighting tool which is used by many in the city’s business community to tackle anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.
The software system, which is provided free to BID members, allows users to share real-time information and view alerts about thefts and other crimes happening in Stirling and has been successful in tracking down the culprits of several offences.
Stephanie Karté, National Operations Manager at RAC, said: “These meetings are an essential opportunity for local businesses to stay informed, connected and better equipped to tackle retail crime.
“They are key to strengthening local partnerships, enhancing prevention strategies and creating a safer trading environment in Stirling.
“And they are about more than just sharing information – they’re about building a united front against crime. By working together, sharing intelligence and utilising crime prevention tools like SentrySIS effectively, we can make a real difference in reducing retail crime and protecting our communities.”
Each session will explore a specific theme and provide valuable insights including an introduction to RAC and the organisation’s collaboration with the BID; a detailed review of current retail crime trends with real-life examples and footage and practical guidance on making the most of the SentrySIS intelligence-sharing platform.
Anyone who plans to attend the briefing next Tuesday is asked to confirm their attendance by email to info@retailersagainstcrime.org
The two subsequent briefings will also take place in the Golden Lion Hotel at 9.30am and are held on Tuesday September 16 and Tuesday November 18.
Retailers Against Crime is a national retail crime partnership, established in 1997, which aims to detect and prevent crime by sharing information on local and travelling offenders with members and partners throughout the UK. More information is available on their website – www.retailersagainstcrime.org
Go Forth Stirling is the city’s BID representing more than 600 business owners with a key objective of increasing visitors to the city and devising initiatives to help make it a more welcoming destination for businesses and shoppers.
For more information visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk
