Shoplifting app being used by more than 1500 businesses.
A high-tech crime fighting app that helps shopkeepers to identify criminals and report thefts, has been hailed a success one year after it was rolled out.
Called Disc, the retail crime reporting app contains galleries of offenders, shares information about local criminal activity, allows users to report theft and anti-social behaviour and receives alerts and messages about shop incidents.
Since its 2024 launch more than 1500 businesses have signed up to the free to use technology and over 1700 incidents have been registered. The scheme was funded by Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner as part of his retail crime strategy in Thames Valley.
“This app has been a key part of my retail crime strategy to make reporting shoplifting and the sharing of information easier for retailers and has been a great success,” said Matthew Barber.
“I encourage businesses to join and to make full use of the app so more criminals can be brought to justice and retail staff can be protected. Maximising member participation is essential for successful crime reduction schemes.”
The scheme is available to businesses in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes and can be used for retail, night-time economy or anti-social behaviour (ASB) schemes. The information is shared with Thames Valley Police and supports the use of enforcement action against offenders as well as increasing in shoplifting convictions.
“Disc can support retailers through any obstacles, although this is a very user-friendly app, which allows the reporting of shoplifting or ASB to be completed very quickly,” said Oliver Fletcher, Thames Valley Business Crime Reduction Partnership Manager.
“Some businesses still prefer to ring 101, but this system is tailored to retail and similar crimes, making it much more targeted and efficient.”
To sign up: oliver.fletcher@thamesvalley.police.uk
More information: https://discagainstcrime.com/
