The recent launch of the National Intelligence Sharing Alliance (n.isa) provided the Coaltion and the NERCP with a great deal of regional and national press coverage.

Below we have reproduced an article from today's Newcastle Journal. Similar articles have appeared in The Guardian, Northern Echo, York Press, Sunderland Echo and BBC News website...

Police in the North-East have joined a new intelligence network that shares information on shoplifters who are travelling the country.

The National Intelligence Sharing Alliance (n.isa) – has been launched by the North East Retail Crime Partnership (NERCP), designed to track shoplifters and bring them to justice.

Officers and shops in the region will now have access to warnings that thieves are operating in the area, details of the methods they are using, the cars they are driving, and the goods they are targeting.

Its launch comes after the NERCP has spent the last year putting in place agreements which allow other partnerships across the country to share the data.

Other areas which have signed up include the Midland Regional Crime Partnership, Retailers Against Crime Scotland, the Scottish Business Crime Centre and Retailers Against crime York.

Chief executive of the NERCP, Anne Tate, said:"Highly organised teams of thieves travel extensively to steal goods and commit fraud and refund abuse. They move quickly from city to town across the UK to avoid being identified and deterred. Between us, our regional retail crime organisations cover around 70 per cent of the country.

“This system formalises the existing links between partner organisation and their members, increasing the amount of information available, and the speed in which it is shared. We can forewarn members that thieves are operating in their area, explain the methods they are using, the cars they are driving, and the goods they are targeting. By being pro-active, we can send a very clear message to these teams not to target our stores and shopping centres.

“We believe retailers and businesses in the North East will benefit greatly in taking part. The NERCP is also introducing a new analytical tool which will help us to identify links between the offenders and who the individuals are who make up, and run, these teams.”

Peter Kaye, head of business protection from the John Lewis Partnership, said: “The way forward is intelligence-led targeting of prolific, professional travelling shop thieves and teams, with partner networks giving advanced warning and enhancing knowledge of relationships between offenders.”

Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Mike Craik, said: “By actively taking steps to minimise opportunities to commit crime the police, the public and private sectors and all communities either collectively or as individuals can contribute to reducing crime in our area.

“By engaging everyone together so that there is a co-ordinated approach we can make an even bigger impact.”

His predecessor at Northumbria, Crispian Strachan, is now special advisor to the NERCP and the Coalition.


Northumbria Coalition Against Crime, Northumbria Police HQ, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0BL
Telephone 01661 868 424, Fax 01661 868488, E-mail info@thecoalition.org.uk