Special Recognition Award

Amy Brice

West Mercia Police

Amy joined West Mercia Police less than two years ago and, within her first four months, identified a troubling trend in retail crime. Recognising the need for a detailed analysis and a strategic approach, Amy embarked on a comprehensive problem-solving mission to understand and address the root causes of this issue.

Scanning and Analysis:

During the initial scanning phase, Amy meticulously gathered and analysed data from various sources, including local and national police reports, British Retail Consortium (BRC) data, National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) reports, and the Morrisons community safety strategy. She also reviewed the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) retail crime action plan. Amy’s dedication to understanding the broader context led her to attend NBCS and Retail Risk conferences. She also received valuable insights from experts such as Superintendent Patrick Holdaway, Professor Emeline Taylor, and risk and loss prevention leaders at Boots and Co-op.

Internally, Amy conducted surveys with small businesses, interviewed reformed offenders in rehabilitation, and visited numerous retail outlets across the force area to gather first hand perspectives from staff. This thorough approach enabled her to identify that shoplifting reports in West Mercia had increased by 78% between 2021 and 2023, highlighting a significant underreporting issue and inconsistencies in policing approaches across different areas.

Recommendations and Implementation:

Based on her findings, Amy developed a comprehensive list of recommendations centred around five key themes:

Improving Investigations and File Quality: Enhancing the quality and efficiency of investigations to ensure better outcomes.
Increasing Partnership Working: Fostering stronger collaborations between police and retail partners.
Evidence-Based Approaches and Innovative Crime Prevention Tactics: Implementing strategies such and trialling new crime prevention methods.
Enhanced Focus on the Handler of Stolen Property: Targeting those who facilitate the sale and distribution of stolen goods.
Increasing Compliance and Access to Rehabilitation Options: Ensuring offenders have access to rehabilitation programs to reduce reoffending.

Amy cross-checked her recommendations with Superintendent Holdaway from the NBCC and presented her findings to chief officers, securing approval for a force-wide rollout. Her recommendations are now being implemented, and she is conducting an interim review to assess their effectiveness.

Impact and Future Potential:

Amy’s work represents a significant achievement in problem-solving and partnership building. Her ability to identify a critical issue, develop a strategic response, and implement solutions across a geographically large force area is commendable, especially for someone with less than two years of policing experience. Amy’s efforts are expected to lead to improved partnership working, a better understanding of retailers’ perspectives, enhanced investigative practices, and more opportunities for offender rehabilitation.

Conclusion:

Amy’s dedication, innovative thinking, and commitment to reducing retail crime make her an outstanding candidate for this award. Her work not only addresses a pressing issue but also sets a benchmark for future initiatives within West Mercia Police. Amy’s contributions are poised to have a lasting positive impact on the community, making her a deserving recipient of this recognition.

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