LISKEARD businesses are being given a new weapon in the fight against shoplifting, with a reporting system helping police build a clearer picture of repeat offenders operating in the town.

Police Community Support Officer Rebecca Steed demonstrated the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) system during a recent visit to Liskeard by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez’s office.

The online portal, which is also available as a smartphone app, allows retailers to report crimes quickly and share intelligence, photographs and CCTV footage with police and neighbouring businesses.

Ms Hernandez said the system was designed to tackle a long-standing problem with retail crime going unreported.

“For years, retailers told me reporting theft was often too time-consuming and that they lacked confidence that anything would happen as a result,” she said. “When crime goes unreported, police cannot build a clear picture of offending, identify repeat offenders or target resources effectively.

“That is why I have supported initiatives that make it easier for businesses to report crime and share information.”

During the visit, PCSO Steed demonstrated how incidents, images and CCTV can be submitted quickly, allowing information to reach police and other businesses far more efficiently than traditional reporting methods.

She explained that UKPAC is helping businesses report incidents which may previously have gone unrecorded, while giving officers a clearer intelligence picture of repeat offenders.

The information can also support neighbourhood policing, helping officers identify patterns of offending and respond more effectively to concerns raised by local retailers.

Ms Hernandez said making reporting easier could ultimately help police build stronger cases against prolific offenders.

She said: “Most people are deterred by the risk of being caught, but repeat offenders are often not. That’s why making it easier to report offences is so important. It helps police identify prolific offenders, build evidence against them and take action to prevent them causing further harm.”

Recorded shoplifting across Devon and Cornwall fell by 9.1 per cent in the year to March 2026, from 11,142 offences to 10,124. However, Ms Hernandez warned against relying solely on headline figures, saying changes in reporting levels can affect the picture.

“Sometimes increased reporting does not mean more crime is taking place,” she said. “It means victims are coming forward, evidence is being captured and businesses have greater confidence that action can be taken.”

For Liskeard retailers, the system provides a way of sharing information that could help connect individual incidents and identify offenders moving between businesses.

Ms Hernandez said enforcement was only part of the response, with repeat offenders often facing problems including drug and alcohol addiction and mental health difficulties.

“Alongside the firm action to prosecute those who are stealing, we also need to tackle the root causes of shoplifting,” she said. “That’s why I am an advocate of organisations that work to deliver effective treatment for addiction and it’s why I would encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for support.”

Shoplifting remains one of the most commonly reported theft offences across Devon and Cornwall, accounting for more than 10,000 offences in the year to March 2026.