A new crime reporting scheme is aiming to tackle rising shop thefts.
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have launched the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) platform, backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, to help businesses report retail crime more easily.
More than 120 businesses have already signed up, including 22 Sports Direct stores.
Frasers Group, the parent company of Sports Direct, hosted the scheme’s launch at their store in Whiteley Shopping Centre.
Chief Inspector Marcus Cator with PCC Donna Jones viewing the UKPAC app outside Sports Direct in Whiteley Shopping Centre (Image: OPPC Communications team) Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "Shop theft affects retailers all over Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
"Shoplifting crimes have been going up year-on-year with the majority of shoplifting carried out by repeat offenders who target stores every day, leaving businesses feeling helpless – constantly fighting to protect stock and staff.
"It’s been an ongoing battle for support but UKPAC will help businesses who have been crying out for a simple way to report crimes and for assurances that they will be investigated."
The UKPAC platform is designed to speed up reporting, improve evidence gathering, and reduce demand on police resources.
It also allows police to track offenders more efficiently and share intelligence.
A pilot in Portsmouth led to the prosecution of 58 repeat offenders, with evidence gathered for more than 900 crimes.
Police and Crime Commissioner funding of £177,548 means businesses can use UKPAC free of charge until April 2026.
Chief Inspector Marcus Cator said: "Over the past year, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has been working with UKPAC to test the ways in which we can improve our joint service, resulting in 58 repeat offenders in Portsmouth being prosecuted, thanks to detailed evidence of more than 900 crimes."
UKPAC Chairman Gareth Lewis said: "We’re proud to be working alongside Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones on this forward-thinking initiative to tackle business crime in Hampshire."
Retail crime in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight rose by 14.8 per cent in the year up to December 2024, increasing from 13,705 to 15,743 incidents.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here