Police leaders have reported that a newly established centralised unit is making significant strides in combating the rise of shoplifting, particularly those orchestrated by organised crime groups.

Operation Opal, a specialised unit launched this year, has identified 152 prolific offenders linked to organised retail crime within its first three months of operation. The unit's efforts are part of a broader initiative, Project Pegasus, funded by some of Britain’s largest retailers.

The new unit, which collaborates with all 43 police forces in England and Wales, focuses on gathering and analysing evidence such as CCTV footage, crime reports, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data. This intelligence is then used to track and apprehend offenders operating across multiple regions.

Among the first cases to be resolved was that of Alexandru-Iulian Dima, a Romanian national who was recently sentenced to four years in prison for stealing £60,000 worth of goods from Boots stores across the UK.

“Retail crime has a significant impact on victims,” stated Alex Goss, assistant chief constable at Merseyside police and the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for retail crime. “This renewed focus, working alongside Opal’s highly effective intelligence work, is showing a marked improvement in our response, dealing robustly with offenders and supporting retailers of all sizes.”

The rise in shoplifting has been a growing concern for both retailers and law enforcement. In the year leading up to March 2024, shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales surged to a 20-year high, with 443,995 incidents reported—an increase of 30 per cent from the previous year. This alarming trend has been linked to the activities of organised crime gangs, which have increasingly targeted retailers, costing the industry an estimated £1.8 billion in the 2023-24 financial year.

Stephanie Coombes, head of intelligence at Opal, highlighted the importance of the unit’s role in centralising intelligence and coordinating efforts across different police forces. “For far too long, these groups have been damaging retailers and communities with thefts reaching hundreds of thousands of pounds, and we are now quite literally ensuring they have nowhere to hide,” she said.

Operation Opal’s success thus far has been bolstered by a £600,000 investment from 13 leading retailers, including John Lewis, Co-op, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s. The unit’s work is set to continue as it tackles the complex and growing challenge of organised retail crime, which has severely impacted retailers across the country.

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