37 arrested in major crackdown on retail crime across Merseyside

20.11.25 - Merseyside

Officers across Merseyside have made 37 arrests during Safer Business Action Week (SaBA) delivering a powerful blow against business and retail crime in our local communities. As part of the initiative, police officers and partners held SaBA days throughout the week and visited local retailers and businesses to understand more about the issues they face daily, offering safety advice and support.

The action taken was part of SaBA week (10-14 November) a national initiative placing more officers on the streets and in town centres and hotspot areas to investigate crimes and put offenders through the courts.

Force Lead for Business Crime, Superintendent Charlotte Irlam from Liverpool Neighbourhood Local Policing said: “Safer Business Action Week has been a really good opportunity to engage with the community and offer advice and support to local retailers and businesses with lots of activity across Merseyside resulting in multiple arrests and a real focus on cracking down on crimes that really impact the local community.  This week of action has been good for fostering partnerships across our business community so that we can problem solve and tackle retail crime together.

“We have poured our resources into delivering more visible patrols in town centres, along with using tactics such as targeting offenders, encouraging people to report crime through our QR codes, leafleting retailers and businesses and talking to them about how to stay safe and how we can help and support them.  All this hard work has resulted in more arrests and effective community engagement which shows our commitment and our ability to work together with the local community and our partners to achieve a successful week of action in the fight against crime.”

The objective was to deliver a focussed operation with joint patrols, the targeted intervention of prolific offenders and a range of crime prevention activity supported by the National Business Crime Centre who organise SaBA Week.

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “This week has shown the power of partnership in making our business districts safer.

“From arrests for theft and drug offences to proactive engagement with retailers and nightlife venues, Safer Business Action Week has delivered results. Every stop search, every joint patrol, and every conversation with businesses sends a clear message: crime will not be tolerated in Merseyside.

“I want to thank officers, PCSOs and staff, as well as security teams, and partners for their relentless efforts to protect staff and customers. By working together, we’re not only tackling crime but building confidence and creating safer spaces for everyone who lives, works, and visits our region.”

Working in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Trading Standards, Liverpool BID Company and City Watch during the week has meant officers were able to work closely with partners, jointly working to bring offenders to justice and help keep the community safe.

The initiative delivered significant activity and positive results in the area including: -

Liverpool City Centre

  • 8 arrests
  • 5 Community Resolutions issued for drug offences
  • 24 Stop and Search completed
  • Officers were out on patrol in Liverpool City Centre with St John’s Shopping Centre Security Teams, and an employee safety event with Liverpool BID
  • Licenced premises were visited along with business visits with the Force Business Lead at a number of retailers.
  • Trading Standards assisted with two retail store visits.

Liverpool

  • 14 arrests
  • Officers were out on high visibility patrol in the areas of Kirkdale, Anfield, Everton, Walton, Fazakerley, Croxteth and Norris Green.
  • Daily business advice was given during a number of police surgeries held in different areas.
  • Officers were able to focus on named offenders for theft.
  • Night-time economy patrols were also carried out.
  • Officers completed several community visits to victims of business crime to offer advice and support.
  • Crime prevention stalls were also set up in locations to offer safety advice.

Knowsley

  • 5 arrests made in total
  • 10 officers and staff deployed throughout the week
  • Officers were out every day in the following areas:
  • Huyton Town Centre, Kirkby Town Centre and Northwood, Prescot Town Centre, Cables Retail Park, and Shakespeare North Playhouse with lots of community engagement and high visibility patrols including engagement with elderly residents to discuss any issues or concerns.

Wirral

  • High visibility patrols were carried out in town centres including  Heswall,  Bromborough  and Birkenhead
  • 2 arrests
  • 12 officers deployed for SaBA
  • 1 repeat offender was remanded into prison.
  • Open land search performed in Birkenhead linked to stolen goods,
  • Shop Link radio use within the town centres promoted with a newly set up Town Centre Team to help combat retail crime.
  • Town centre begging issues addressed with individuals signposted to relevant services to help them.
  • Police surgeries held encouraging retail staff and users to attend and discuss issues they are concerned about.
  • High visibility patrols on Bromborough Retail Park were carried out throughout the week.

Sefton

  • 1 arrest and remand to court with the offender sentenced to 10 weeks.
  • Good community engagement with Southport Town Centre Christmas lights switch on.

St Helens

  • 7 arrests
  • 19 officers, 2 PCSO’s and 3 Police cadets assisted in the week of action
  • High visibility patrols were carried out around the weekly market engaging with stalls and members of the community
  • High visibility patrols attended St Helens Town Centre and St Helens retail parks to disrupt criminal activity and take action on theft from retailers.
  • A pub watch meeting was held to listen to concerns and offer advice.
  • 1 community resolution order was issued for a public order offence.
  • Stop Searches performed throughout the week for theft.
  • An officer worked with CCTV operators within St Helens Council to assist with retail crime in the area.
  • Officers also notified Trading Standards of illegal vapes found on patrol who are going to progress the offence.
  • A man wanted for domestic violence offences was detained and dealt with by officers.

Anyone with information on retail or business crime can contact @MerPolCC on X or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or call 101.
 
You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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