Rehabilitation Award

The Portsmouth Business Crime Navigator – A Collaborative and Alternative Approach to Criminal Justice for Retail Crime.

Hampshire and the IOW Constabulary

The Problem

The majority of those classed as ‘prolific offenders’, were committing crime repeatedly each day, fuelling their complex needs and addiction. When prosecuted, their sentencing failed to provice the support services that could have offered sustained help. Their offending continued and their addiction would become ever stronger…. A downward spiral with potentially life ending consequences.

The impact upon retailers?

An increase in reported theft and a 50% increase in incidents of aggressive confrontation, threats and abuse (BRC 2024). A huge increase in stock loss bringing financial pressures on retailers and a ‘why bother’ loss of confidence in reporting. The targeting of prolific offenders was a logical approach, but any strategy had to include offering offenders driven by substance abuse, a helping hand outside of the normal approach.

Case Study of Client P.T.

P.T. had his own home and his own company abroad. He suffered childhood bereavement when his mum died of cancer. He was a heroin and crack user. His partner of 17 years was subject to domestic violence. He was currently on bail for a police investigation. He had a recent cancer diagnoses but having seen his mum die, he did not want to go ahead with treatment. He was known to local services, but would not engage. But, with support from the Navigator he managed to completely stop using heroin and stopped shoplifting.

The complex case of Offending

Repeat offenders across the programme demonstrated complex life experiences:
• Trauma
• Isolation
• Homelessness
• Caregiving Responsibilities
• Stigma
• Substance Misuse
• Mental Health
• ACEs
• Domestic Abuse
• Children Removed
• Addiction
The Issue from a Policing perspective
• Increasing demand.
• Loss of trust and confidence in criminal justice.
• Policing culture of managing high volume crime vs high harm crimes.
• Repeat clients with increasing risks towards the victims they targeted.
• Vulnerable people driven by more complex crimes, increasing demand on higher harm crimes.
• The financial cost to retailers and societal impacts of crime across the media driving frustration and complaints.

From the partners perspective

Partners were struggling with high caseloads across substance use services. It was clear that one size does not fit all. From Drug Testing on Arrest Data for Shoplifting in 2024, 60% (171) shoplifters tested positive for cocaine and/or opiates. Despite outreach offers, only 54% of shoplifters attended an assessment. In addition, their attendance suffered from a high rate of drop out, plus a high rate of reoffending (88%). It was clear from the custody Drug Test On Arrival initiative, that support for shoplifting appears to be less effective amongst the most prolific offenders. Signposting did not work and there was a clear need for a different approach.

The Partnership

A 5 Way partnership was developed between; Society of St James, Office of the Police Crime Commissioner, Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Constabulary, Southern Co-op and Portsmouth City Council. The project ran from 01/09/2022 – 31/03/2025 and was funded by Southern Coop & Portsmouth City Council Rough Sleeping Initiate (RSI), awarded to the Society of St James. The purpose was to reduce Business Crime by taking a holistic person-centred approach exploring the root causes. The role focused upon repeat offenders, providing a holistic wrap around support, focused on smaller caseloads with a trauma informed approach.

Outcomes

The role was independently evaluated by Portsmouth University in the summer of 2024, supported by a deep dive into 10 cases. The analysis of clients offending 6 months pre and post the support by the Business Crime Navigator showed that:
• 60% of clients (6) had an overall reduction in offending.
• One client 19 shoplifting offences previous to intervention – reduction to 5
• One client 7 shoplifting offences to 1
• One client no offending

Learning & Challenges

You need to have the right person in the role. Most clients want to engage one day and disengage the next. The person doing the role needs to be resilient. The partnership is key, working with recovery, accommodation services, housing services, police, probation, community mental health and homeless health care team is essential. You have to work with someone as soon as they want to engage, with no referrals or waiting lists. The clients say that shoplifting is ‘too easy.’ But they talk about being deterred from larger stores with security. When being released from custody, it is important medication and housing are provided. With the role of the Navigator it is important to celebrate the small wins. Saving 1

Stuart Toogood

I am honored to nominate Stuart Toogood for his exceptional work on the Offender to Rehab...

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