29 prolific Lincoln shoplifters now banned from the city’s stores

Lincolnshire Police have revealed that 29 of the most prolific shoplifters are now prohibited from entering Lincoln’s city centre’s shops.

This means retailers and staff will be better protected from crime, it adds, and if the orders are breached it could lead to the person it was given to being sent to prison.

Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) are used by our Neighbourhood Policing Teams as an effective tool in tackling persistent offending by placing enforceable rules on where a person can and cannot go. They are imposed by the courts and designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals whose behaviour has brought them before a criminal court.

Most importantly, if the CBO is breached it is a criminal offence, and a custodial sentence can be enforced. For the most serious offences, this can be up to five years.

In the case of all 29 of these people, they have been barred from entering any retail premises in Lincoln, with the exception of a small number of agreed shops where they can buy essentials.

Sergeant Steve Parker said: “This has been part of our work targeting volume offenders who have been identified as committing a disproportionate number of crimes against the public. We’ve been prioritising prosecutions and spending our time targeting offenders who have had the most impact on the public in Lincoln, which has meant we have secured court sentences and court orders which can help reduce the impact of their crimes.”

Obtaining this number of CBOs is something the team has specifically worked on, in partnership with the Lincoln Business Improvement Group (BIG), which launched a joint scheme to clamp down on shoplifting in the city centre last year.

Stores in the city are also feeling the difference. Lincolnshire Co-op’s security manager, Mark Foulds, said: “It’s fantastic to see Lincolnshire Police and Lincoln BIG come together to reduce shoplifting in Lincoln city centre. We take incidents of shop theft very seriously and have worked closely with Lincolnshire Police in filing detailed reports against offenders. These have assisted the police in obtaining banning orders.

“Shop theft can really take its toll on local businesses financially, which also has an impact on paying customers. Action like this helps to contain the issue, and it’s definitely a step in the right direction to deter and disrupt prolific offenders.”