• Plymouth PARC Scheme becomes one of the largest in the UK Since October 2025, the Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC) has nearly doubled under the direction of Business Crime Manager Martin Worthington who has been systematically visiting retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses in every neighbourhood across Plymouth. The PARC scheme expansion is being supported by a grant from the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hermandez and is recommended by Devon and Cornwall Police and Plymouth City Council’s Safer Plymouth Starting in October Martin Worthington has visited businesses in Mutley, Greenbank, Devonport, Keyham, Ford, Beacon Park, Pennycross and St Budeaux. Martin then moved across into Stonehouse, the Barbican, the Waterfront, Cattedown and Plymstock throughout November. In December, the final swathes of Plymouth’s neighbourhoods were visited across the North and East of the City from Ernesettle and Tamerton Foliot, Whitleigh, Honicknowle, Southway, Widewell, Roborough Leigham, Estover and finally into Plympton. Martin Worthington, PARC’s Business Crime Manager, said “Over the past four months, I have had countless conversations with business managers, owners’, and proprietors. Whilst every one’s experience can be unique, depending on their business location, the products, or services they provide or their customer base, there are the same common themes that keep emerging, and the one thing everyone agrees on is in keeping our city safe.” “PARC’s membership now has an amazing array of businesses who have joined the PARC scheme over the last few months. As you would expect, there are many supermarkets, convenience stores, clothing retailers, and pharmacies, but PARC also supports florists, travel agencies, garden centres, opticians, pet shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and charity shops.” PARC Ltd Chairman Paul Martin originally set up the PARC Business Crime Prevention Scheme within Plymouth City Centre back in 2001, so this year PARC will be celebrating its 25th anniversary, Ian Warmington the City Centre Business Crime Manager currently supports over 550 businesses within the Plymouth City Centre Business Improvement District (BID). As a Business Crime Reduction Partnership, PARC Business Crime Managers collaborate with the police, business owners, managers, and staff, as well as other partners to reduce crimes against businesses, including stock loss, antisocial behaviour (ASB) and violence against staff and customers. PARC is a not-for-profit company, and any surplus funds are reinvested in further crime prevention activities that benefit the members. “We now have over 450 businesses outside of the City Centre who are members of PARC in every single part of the city, which coupled with the Evening and Night Time Economy Pubwatch PARC members, now puts our scheme as one of the largest in the UK with over 1000 members. This includes not just businesses in the larger retail parks, but your local shop is likely to be a member of PARC too. All members of PARC are given access to the SentrySIS data sharing platform, which provides a city-wide network for both the daytime and evening and night time economy business community with the tools they need to be able to share information and live intelligence in a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant way.” “PARC is using the most up-to-date technology to identify, prevent and deter prolific criminals. Whilst PARC has been successfully supporting Plymouth businesses for nearly 25 years now, PARC recognises it can always do more, and PARC is constantly evolving, improving, and refining how we operate to support businesses as well as to keep the criminals in check. PARC is planning to roll out a new encrypted digital radio network in the north and east of the City with its partners MRS Communications Ltd, which will allow both daytime and evening and night time economy businesses who sign up to either the Storenet or the Nitenet radio scheme the opportunity to share and monitor live radio updates 24/7 in every area in the city. “PARC is confident that with businesses, staff, the police, PARC and our other partners working together collaboratively; using innovative technology and effective interventions, it will make a real and positive impact in reducing and deterring business related crime and antisocial behaviour across the city.” Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Tackling antisocial behaviour and theft are priorities of mine due to residents and businesses wanting to see greater action by the police and partners. “It is fantastic to hear what a difference funding from my office is already making to ensure the continued success and growth of PARC. “We have committed to funding for 18 months to increase the number of business sign-ups to PARC located outside of Plymouth city centre. “PARC is a fantastic business led crime reduction scheme and a great example of collaborative working. I would encourage businesses to sign up to the initiative and also the app which not only make it easier for businesses in the city to report incidents, but helps police build robust cases ready for prosecution, especially around prolific repeat offenders.” Qualifying businesses can join PARC for free until November 2027.

  • Crime-busting ‘hotspot' patrols In Plymouth city centre 'Seeing someone in high-vis on patrol means people think twice about their actions' Special “hotspot” patrols are being stepped up in Plymouth city centre to deter crime and anti-social behaviour in the run up to Christmas. With the main shopping area busy, police officers and Plymouth Against Retail Crime’s Parc Rangers are working together to target areas where intelligence has identified problems are most likely to occur. Shoplifting has soared by 28% in the past 18 months, and the festive period sees a further spike in thefts - and an increase in antisocial behaviour too.Police said stores are being targeted on a daily basis, but thanks to funding from the Home Office, through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, extra patrols are being deployed during the day and into the evening in the city centre. The initiative combines on-the-ground visibility from the Parc Rangers with real-time intelligence gathered through the new Sentrysis crime-reporting app. The initiative focuses on areas identified through data as having high levels of shoplifting, repeat offending, and antisocial behaviour. The Sentrysis platform enables Parc Rangers and participating retailers to instantly share live intelligence, report incidents, and access up-to-date information on known offenders - enabling a faster, more coordinated response. The hotspot patrol strategy means Parc Rangers are deployed into targeted high-risk zones to provide immediate support to businesses experiencing incidents, and deter persistent offenders through increased visibility and rapid intervention.The Sentrysis platform enables Parc Rangers and participating retailers to instantly share live intelligence, report incidents, and access up-to-date information on known offenders - enabling a faster, more coordinated response. They are backed up by the police with both high-visibility uniformed patrols and plain clothes officers involved. Ch Ins Paul Laity, in charge of neighbourhood policing and partnerships, said: “We are aware that at this time of year we can see an increase in footfall and we want people to feel safe. “It starts with visibility of police and Parc Rangers, we share information so we are in the right place at the right time. They are backed up by the police with both high-visibility uniformed patrols and plain clothes officers involved. “We also have plain-clothes officers as spotters, there are various tactics. Covert and overt tactics will be used.” He added: “Retail crime is a national priority, it has gone up in recent years. We have worked with Parc for 24 years and in recent months have intensified our patrols and are getting more businesses to sign up to Parc. “It’s not just about reducing shoplifting, but making the business community feel safe. It is linked to the Neighborhood Policing Guarantee, a pillar of that is making town centres safer, taking back the streets - cracking down on anti-social behaviour. “Retail crime is under-reported, there is shoplifting every single day and that’s the tip of the iceberg,” said Ch Ins Laity. “We want businesses to join Parc so they can report it. “In line with the national average, shoplifting has gone up 28% in 18 months, and Plymouth is in line with that. “There are a lot of causes, some people are stealing because of deprivation, or drug addiction, but some are organised criminals, stealing to sell goods on. “It’s a societal issue, the police can’t solve it by themselves, we need a relationship with organisations such as Plymouth City Council and Parc, and the management at the mall. We need to work together.” The Parc Rangers have powers under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and can share information and photos of prolific shoplifters with the police, and detain suspects and obtain their names and addresses. They can also seize alcohol from under-18s, and the council has given them powers to seize alcohol from anyone in the city centre Up to six of the city centre’s seven Parc Rangers can be on patrol at any one time, during the day and evening. There are generally two Parc Rangers deployed in the city centre, another two taking part in the hotspot patrols, and two patrolling carparks during the evening. Normally, the Parc Rangers patrol between 10am and 5pm, but the hotspot patrols are from 2pm to 8pm and 4pm to 10pm. James Southwood, senior Parc Ranger, said: “It’s about having a capable guardian in the area to deter crime - seeing someone in high-vis on patrol means people think twice about their actions.” He added: “During this time of year there is an uptick in shoplifting, mostly Christmas goods. But our work can involve anything that is disruptive to businesses - sometimes someone even being unreasonable about a refund. “We take all the data from our patrols and police patrols and narrow it to the highest reporting areas and put those on a map and get manpower into those areas to disrupt criminal behaviour. It’s a visible deterrent to reassure businesses. “We deal with everything you can imagine, a lot of the people we deal with have mental health or addiction problems, or issues with housing. “We can reassure these people that there is help for them and can signpost them to places like Harbour and the council." Ian Warmington, Parc’s business crime manager, said: “This is a proactive partnership approach by Parc Rangers and the police combining physical with real-time intelligence from Sentrysis. “Retailers tell us they need faster responses, clearer communication, and a visible presence on the streets. These hotspot patrols deliver exactly that. “Parc is working closely with Devon and Cornwall Police, helping create a safer and more secure environment for businesses, staff, and shoppers.”

  • Crime-busting crackdown moves into every corner of Plymouth. Plymouth shoplifters are being warned they will be caught and convicted as a new crime-busting initiative is rolled out across the city. The Plymouth Against Retail Crime (Parc) scheme has been a crime-fighting success in the city centre for the past 24 years. Now, thanks to significant funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, it is expanding into every corner of Plymouth. Already about 350 businesses - including shops, cafes, restaurants and bars - have signed up, in addition to the 400 members in the city centre. And more are expected to follow, giving them access to the latest crime-prevention technology and a database of known offenders they can keep a lookout for. Inspector Andy Stewart, of the Devonport and West Plymouth team, said extending Parc would make a major impact on the “huge” amount of retail crime in the city with is causing businesses huge financial losses every day. He said: “Retail theft is a priority for the force, and nationally. Anything we can do to reduce its impact on the community will be a great success. “The impact of Parc in the city centre has pushed offenders to other parts of Plymouth, so if we can bring the Parc system to these areas we will have a positive impact.” Martin Worthington, Parc’s business crime manager, said the vast majority of the crime was caused by a small number of offenders and said: “There is a misconception that people can get away with it - but we will prevent and deter and catch and convict.” Thanks to the new support from the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Devon and Cornwall force, Plymouth Against Retail Crime Ltd is offering two years free membership to retail businesses across the city. In the past couple of months Mr Worthington has visited hundreds in areas such as Mutley, Plympton, Plymstock, the Barbican, Devonport and more. Hundreds are signing up, hungry to receive free access to the SentrySIS app, a secure GDPR compliant digital platform which has been designed and configured to improve and simplify crime reporting, information and intelligence sharing between businesses and the police. The SentrysSIS app allows businesses to instantly access live information on incidents, share details on banned shoplifters and other criminals, report crimes directly to the police and share intelligence with other businesses in the Parc network. Mr Worthington, a former police officer, said: “The response has been incredibly positive right across the city with food, clothing, home improvement, gardening, electronic, charity shops and health and beauty retailers joining Parc. “Recognising that crime and antisocial behaviour adversely affects all businesses, we have gone further and extended this free offer to include all leisure and hospitality businesses. All businesses are welcome. “We are confident that through effective collaboration and innovative technology, we can make a real difference in tackling and addressing business related crime and antisocial behaviour in our city.” Among the first to sign up was the Morrisons Daily supermarket in Marlborough Street, Devonport, where store manager Steve Houghton told PlymouthLive shoplifting attacks happened on a daily basis. He said thieves raided the store for items such as hot food, confectionery, meat, washing powder and coffee - sometimes simply running in and grabbing items. “We had £68 of chocolate stolen yesterday,” he said. “People come in with a big bag and fill it and are out the door.” He said joining Parc will be a boost and said: “We can post CCTV and other stores can see the offenders. The app is really good.” Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Parc is a fantastic business-led crime reduction partnership and an excellent example of collaborative working with the retailer, police and Plymouth City Council over 24 years. “I am pleased to be able to support this project to help retailers tackle crime and antisocial behaviour which harms local communities.” Chief Inspector Paul Laity said “Neighbourhood officers have a great relationship with Parc, working alongside them for over 24 years to keep our local communities safe. “In recent months our activity has intensified with increased joint patrols and visits to local businesses to engage with them and understand their concerns. “We know retail crime and associated anti-social behaviour has been on the increase and there is an element of under-reporting for various reasons. “With Parc members now able to access the Sentrysis App, retailers will be able to communicate and share data and images of suspects with one another, helping to build that intelligence picture and identify where resources are best directed to combat crime. “By joining the Parc community it will strengthen our business community, improve direct reporting mechanisms and increase information sharing to ensure our resources are in the right place at the right time. “Our joint efforts are supported by Safer Plymouth and the PCC recognising the need to make our city safer.” Paul Martin, Parc chair, thanked Ms Hernandez, Chief Ins Laity and the four neighbourhood inspectors for supporting the initiative and said their commitment, with the help of PCSOs, had been “invaluable”. He said: “The response from businesses has been tremendous and Parc wants as many as possible to take up the free offer. The two-year free membership offer is available to all eligible businesses within Plymouth, with further expansion under consideration as the Parc scheme continues to grow