Crime-reporting app helps jail shoplifters across Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Shoplifters in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have received a total of 414 months — the equivalent of 34 years and six months — in custodial sentences, thanks to evidence gathered through a crime-reporting app backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones.
The UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) app, launched in the two counties by the PCC in June, has already helped secure convictions for multiple offenders, including four who were sentenced to a year or more in prison.
One prolific shoplifter in Hampshire was jailed for 21 months after UKPAC evidence helped convict them of 93 shoplifting offences, 30 breaches of a Community Behaviour Order, two assaults on security guards, and three failures to appear in court.
Retailers see crime fall in Lymington
The coastal town of Lymington has emerged as a standout example of the app’s success, with local retailers reporting a significant fall in shoplifting incidents.
In January, there were 16 reported offences, followed by 15 in February. By September, that number had fallen to just four, and seven in October.
A total of 31 shops in Lymington have now signed up to use the app, which allows users to log crimes, upload CCTV or images, and share intelligence directly with police. The platform’s artificial intelligence also links offenders across multiple stores and towns, helping officers identify repeat offenders more quickly.
Since the rollout, UKPAC has received 54 reports from Lymington businesses, all of which have been successfully investigated — a 100% success rate. The app has helped charge and convict one offender of 29 offences, while also identifying five known offenders travelling into the town from other areas.
To support the scheme, the Police and Crime Commissioner has invested £177,548 to ensure businesses across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can access the app free of charge for their first year.
PCC praises “closer relationship” between traders and police
During a recent visit to Lymington, PCC Donna Jones met with store owners and local police officers to hear first-hand how the app is helping tackle retail crime and strengthen partnerships between businesses and law enforcement.
“I am delighted to see the positive impact that UKPAC has had in Lymington,” said Jones. “The improved relationship and strong bond between traders and police is testament to how this initiative can help us to combat business crime.”
She added: “Since launching UKPAC in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight just over five months ago, we have had hundreds of businesses sign up and there are now well over a thousand business users of this app. More importantly, we are seeing the result of long custodial sentences for some of the worst offenders in our region, thanks to this initiative.”
PCC Jones praised the enthusiasm of local traders for embracing the technology.
“I’m really impressed with the uptake that we have seen throughout Lymington — I think almost every other shop along the High Street has now signed up,” she said. “But the most important thing for me is the feedback from the retailers themselves.”
“Meeting with the owners of shops like Between the Lines and Perfumery & Co, where this app is working well, has been a useful insight to see how UKPAC helps staff to report crimes and be aware of other criminal activity in the town.”
“They are telling me that they feel so much safer, because of having the app on their phone,” she continued. “They feel that they have a closer relationship with police officers, the Local Bobby and the PCSOs.”
“It feels to me that policing in the town of Lymington has become stronger and better as a direct result of the UKPAC rollout here. Our message to shoplifters across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is clear: with help from retailers, the police are coming after you!”
“Working stronger together”
Gareth Lewis, Chairman of UKPAC, praised the commitment of Lymington’s business community and police to tackling crime together.
“The UKPAC membership in Lymington is a proactive and engaged community,” he said. “Members have embraced the direct-to-police reporting model, which makes it easier for them to report crimes to the police and enables Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to efficiently handle, process, and deliver effective outcomes based on the high-quality evidence provided.”
“The successes in Lymington have seen us help to identify travelling offenders from neighbouring towns and cities who might otherwise have gone unnoticed,” he added. “The police and the membership community have demonstrated their commitment to tackling business crime — working stronger together.”
National context
The British Retail Consortium Crime Survey 2025 found that Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary provide the most effective police response to retail crime in the UK.
Across the country, the survey reported 20.4 million shoplifting incidents, amounting to £2.2 billion in business losses. However, with only 10% of retail crime being reported to police, the true figure is believed to be much higher.
Smart technology aiding police
UKPAC provides businesses with a secure, online crime-reporting tool that is simple to use and fully compliant with data protection laws. The system uses smart technology and AI to track patterns of criminal behaviour, helping police identify repeat offenders, gather evidence, and act quickly against those targeting multiple stores.
The platform’s independent crime intelligence hub links reports across the two counties and beyond, providing police with ready-to-use case files and supporting evidence for court. This approach is saving thousands of police deployments and allows retailers to report incidents without having to call 101.
In addition to reporting tools, UKPAC offers crime prevention advice, support with civil prosecutions, and access to Dedicated Business Crime Liaison Officers (BCLOs), helping to strengthen communication between police and the business community.
For more information, visit www.uk-pac.com
