Officer hands stolen lamb chops back to supermarket worker

STOLEN meat was returned to its rightful place on the supermarket shelves as police officers clamp down on shoplifting.

Bournemouth police’s PCSO Harold returned some cuts of lamb to an M&S worker in Westbourne on Wednesday morning, April 24.

PCSO Harold said: “We've successfully addressed reports of shoplifting and recovered stolen goods.

“Additionally, a contract has been served to one of our regular ASB nominal with an anti-social behaviour injunction, which contains restrictions on the person's behaviour in the town centre,

“Let's continue working together to keep our community free from anti-social behaviour.”

Stolen meat from Westbourne (Image: Bournemouth police)

Officers from Bournemouth south's neighbourhood policing team (NPT) have been patrolling on foot across the town centre to tackle crime in the area.

A spokesman for Bournemouth police said there are a “number of hotspots” in the town centre, adding residents should expect to see officers routinely patrol the area.

He said: “The hotspots have been identified from public contact data. This highlights the importance of reporting issues to us.

“Our aim is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and increase public confidence. We work closely with our partner agencies in the locale as part of the Town Team a multi-agency approach to longer term problem solving and improving the town centre of Bournemouth.

“Do stop us if you see us out and about on foot patrols. We are very much here for you.”

Police speaking to a man (Image: Bournemouth police)

Earlier this year, businesses, BCP Council and Dorset Police committed themselves to the Business Crime Reduction Partnership.

It will collate the information gathered, aiming to reveal hotspots, high-risk times of day, and patterns of repeat offenders.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick added: "Business crime is not a victimless offence, and since I came to the office, I have heard from business owners how serious and damaging incidents of shoplifting can be, especially when staff are abused or attacked.

"It is only by working together and sharing intelligence that we can truly tackle the crimes our business communities across Dorset face.

“Shoplifters prey on our communities, and by working together, we will bring more of them to justice and make our shops and streets safer."