Southampton crimestoppers return more than £250k worth of stolen goods to local businesses

A crime-reducing partnership is delivering results in Southampton.

As the city’s Business Improvement District, GO! Southampton has been funding three security members from SWL Security to patrol the city centre and support local companies.

Credit: GO! Southampton

Their Southampton Business Crime Partnership (SBCP) has successfully recovered almost £286,000 worth of stolen goods since the initiative began in 2020.

Over the past year alone, the team has made 231 arrests for various offences and assisted in another 373, often putting into practice their professional training to help safely deescalate the situation.

Carol Bowers, Business Crime Reduction Administrator for GO! Southampton, said: “The largest issue Southampton faces is shoplifting, particularly at a time when the cost of living is at its highest.

“This comes as no surprise as the city is one of the best retail destinations on the South Coast.

“It means that as well as thefts being carried out by known local offenders and organised crime groups, the current cost-of-living crisis could see a potential increase in opportunistic offenders.

Credit: GO! Southampton

“But it isn’t just the public facing these issues, businesses are feeling the squeeze too – and we need to make sure as much of that money goes into those tills as possible to keep those businesses thriving and the local economy stable.”

Their efforts earned GO! Southampton the coveted Purple Flag status earlier this year, which recognises measures taken to make town and city centres safe, diverse, vibrant, appealing and well-managed for night-time consumers.

Chief Executive Stephen Manion added: “We want to ensure Southampton is a safe place for our businesses, as well as for its residents and visitors, and we are extremely thankful for the hard work of SWL Security and the GO! Southampton security team.

“By keeping the city safe, visitors can enjoy a warm welcome, which we’re hoping will inspire even more people to return to the city and support local businesses through footfall and spending.”

The security team has visited a number of retail and hospitality organisations over the past 12 months. And according to Dean Rawson of SWL Security, it’s often just their presence that makes the difference.

Credit: GO! Southampton

He said: “Although managing crime takes up a lot of the security team’s time, a significant amount of their role is to support the general public.

“Members of the community have stated the value, confidence and peace of mind they receive through the visual presence of the deployed team.

“While on patrol, the team is always on hand to help patrons and visitors by offering advice, giving directions, assisting in first-aid incidents, as well as much more.

“The team also frequently provides pastoral support for vulnerable people, such as the homeless and those with mental health issues.”