Police Chief Proposes ID Checks for Facebook Sellers to Combat Rising Shoplifting Rates
A police chief urges Facebook sellers to verify their identities to curb the sale of stolen goods, as shoplifting incidents soar across the UK.
Facebook, Shoplifting, Police, UK, Amanda Blakeman, North Wales
Colwyn Bay: A police chief is calling for online sellers to show their IDs to help stop the sale of stolen goods on social media. Amanda Blakeman, who leads the National Police Chief Council on theft-related crimes, believes this could deter sellers from offering stolen items.
Since May, the NPCC’s Opal unit has arrested 93 people and disrupted 28 crime groups linked to over £4 million in stolen goods. This is part of a new partnership called “Pegasus,” where police work with retailers to track and tackle shoplifting across England and Wales.
With the holiday season approaching, more people are expected to shop online. Unfortunately, shoplifting is on the rise, with police reporting two thefts every minute. In the year leading up to June, there were nearly 470,000 shoplifting incidents, a 29% increase from the previous year.
Blakeman suggests that requiring sellers to provide identification would help trace stolen goods and discourage illegal sales. She pointed out that organized crime groups are now involved in shoplifting, stealing everything from alcohol to medication.
She emphasized the importance of targeting these markets to prevent stolen goods from being sold. Blakeman also urged the public to be cautious about where they buy items, especially if the prices seem too good to be true.
As Christmas approaches, she warned that there would be more police presence in retail areas, including undercover officers. They are ramping up patrols and using body cameras to deter theft.
Police are also using community behavior orders to keep known shoplifters away from areas where they’ve stolen. Violating these orders can lead to serious jail time, with adults facing up to five years and minors up to two years.
Blakeman shared a personal experience where she intervened to help detain a shoplifter while off-duty. Her presence and authority helped calm the situation, leading to the suspect’s arrest.