Using tech to fight retail crime: Disc app now used by over 1,500 businesses
The retail crime reporting app was rolled out a year ago free of charge, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner as part of his retail crime strategy in Thames Valley
Disc is a crime information-sharing system that allows for businesses and others to be aware of criminal activity in their communities, view galleries of offenders, submit reports of incidents and act as an alternative to 101 for reporting non-emergency crimes. It also enables communities to manage their business crime reduction schemes efficiently and effectively. A year since its launch, 1563 businesses have signed up and 1758 incidents have now been registered.
Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said:
“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. 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.”
Disc is available, free of charge, 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.
Oliver Fletcher, Thames Valley Business Crime Reduction Partnership Manager said: “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 and for the partnership of businesses, police, and local authorities to happen in real time to address the fact that many of these offenders are part of criminal groups and prolific in certain areas. Some businesses still prefer to ring 101, but this system is tailored to retail and similar crimes, making it much more targeted and efficient.”
