Retail crime reporting to police improves through use of retail crime technology

Devon and Cornwall Police have reported a 9.4% higher criminal charge rate for retail crime reported through a crime intelligence platform, compared to more traditional reporting channels (101 and via the Force website).

As the first police force in the country to enable ‘direct to police reporting’ through the Auror platform, the Force has led the way in transforming how business crime is managed. The platform, now introduced a year ago, uses information entered by retailers to help officers identify repeat and high-harm offenders, target hotspot areas, and build strong evidence files from the outset.

Introduced formally in October 2024, the initiative marked a significant step in the force’s mission to tackle retail crime more effectively.

By streamlining the reporting process, Auror enables partnered retailers to provide high-quality, court-ready evidence at the first point of contact. This not only improves investigative efficiency but also contributes to higher charge rates and better outcomes for victims.

Alongside higher criminal charge rates, the force has seen increased victim engagement. The rate of victims not supporting further action from police is 3.6% for Auror reports, compared to 16.6% for others. We believe this improvement is linked to the enhanced quality and completeness of evidence submitted through the platform, which encourages victims to see the process through to the end instead of withdrawing before a perpetrator has been caught and charged.

T/Chief Superintendent Antony Hart, Force Business Crime lead said: “The Auror platform has improved the way we respond to, and investigate, retail crime. It gives us instant access to quality intelligence and evidence, allowing us to identify offenders more quickly and protect our communities more effectively. We’ve already seen how this partnership leads to stronger cases and more positive results for victims. Evidence gathered through Auror has directly supported Court applications and longer-term orders that help reduce reoffending and protect retail staff.

“We know that retail crime is still under-reported, but we can only tackle what we know about. By working with businesses to share vital information and intelligence using the crime intelligence platforms they use, such as Auror, we can build a clearer picture of offending patterns and take proactive steps to prevent and detect crime. Working together, we can make our communities safer for everyone.”

The learning from Devon and Cornwall Police’s implementation of Auror has also been published on the College of Policing’s website, which can be found at: Auror – direct to police reporting and retail crime intelligence platform | College of Policing.