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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Theft - (shoplifting, personal, other), which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. Our policing teams across the New Forest continue to work tirelessly to reduce the number of shopliftings in our area, specifically tackling shoplifters, including those we know are some of our most prolific offenders.
In the 12-month period to March 2026, our area saw a 28 per cent decrease in reported shopliftings. That figure is compared with the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, between Monday 1 September 2025 and Tuesday 1 September 2026, we saw a 25 per cent decrease in the number of reported shopliftings in the Hythe area, also compared to the previous same period.
These figures are a reflection of the dedicated work and patrols our teams are completing throughout the district, working closely with businesses and partners to identify offenders, investigate crimes, put people before the courts, and look at new and innovative ways to try and tackle the problem, one of which – UKPAC - has proven extremely successful in the Lymington area.
UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) is a crime-fighting initiative, which enables retailers to successfully share information and tackle shoplifting. Through UKPAC, the number of reported shopliftings in Lymington alone, where more than 30 stores are now signed up to the scheme, have fallen considerably.
Between 1 January 2025 and 21 September 2025, there were 113 reported incidents of shoplifting in Lymington. In the same period this year, that figure has fallen to 72.
You can read more about UKPAC, its significant benefits, and how to sign up, here - https://uk-pac.com/
Speaking on the latest successes, which include eight prolific offenders currently subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order or Community Protection Warning, New Forest East Inspector, Tom Hannam, said: “Retail crime remains one of our local priorities, which our teams are tackling daily, as you will have no doubt seen from our many updates on this page and elsewhere.
“We regularly liaise with the businesses in our district to ensure we are listening to any concerns they have, as well as offering as much support and advice as possible.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and can often be accompanied by verbal abuse and violence towards shop staff, which is completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated.
“We will continue to work hard to investigate reports of shoplifting, carrying out enquiries to enable arrests, bring charges, convict offenders, and secure Criminal Behaviour Orders against repeat thieves, one of whom has this year been charged with 30 reported shopliftings from stores in the New Forest.”
With no intention of stopping there, Inspector Hannam said: “We are determined to go even further in tackling and reducing the level of offending across the New Forest, and we will remain relentless in our efforts to protect our people and businesses.
“To do so, though, we encourage our businesses to stay in touch with us. We want to hear from you, especially if you feel there is more we can do to help and support you. If you are a shop owner or staff member, please continue to report any incidents to us, and please continue to share your information and views with us.”
To report an incident, please call 101 or report online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website, below;
https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
*You can read more about Criminal Behaviour Order and Community Protection Warnings at the below links. 👇
https://asbhelp.co.uk/practitioners-hub/non-legal-and-legal-tools-and-powers/community-protection-warning/
https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/ancillary-suppl-information-text/criminal-behaviour-order/
 If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at www.hampshire.police.uk, or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
Please click here to complete the survey
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