Anxious shop owners have ‘had enough’, says councillor.
Councillors from a Milton Keynes town have joined forces with the police to fight growing shop crime and anti-social behaviour.
Frustrated store owners in Newport Pagnell had had enough of increased shoplifting and disturbances and called in Conservative Councillors Chris Wardle and Alison Andrew to help.
After hearing directly from affected retailers, listening to town councillors and PCSOs, Cllrs Wardle and Andrew secured a meeting with Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber. They toured the High Street, listened to first-hand experiences, and began mapping out a stronger, coordinated response.
“These businesses are the heartbeat of Newport Pagnell, and they’ve had enough,” said Chris Wardle. “Some of them are facing theft daily, it’s not just about financial loss, it’s the mental toll of never feeling secure.
“That’s why I brought this issue to the PCC personally. We had an honest, constructive conversation with town councillors about CCTV coverage, visibility of policing, and how we can better support our shop owners. I was encouraged by the PCC’s clear commitment and his team’s action so far.”
Thames Valley Police have already made progress. Since implementing a focused approach to retail crime, shoplifting charges across the force area have risen by 98%.
Out of the top 20 most prolific offenders in Milton Keynes, 12 are currently imprisoned and the remaining eight are awaiting sentencing. These results are proof that when intelligence, local insight, and enforcement come together, real impact follows.
The visit also focused on promoting the use of DISC, a free crime-reporting and information-sharing app for businesses. The app enables retailers to quickly flag incidents, share offender profiles, and stay informed about criminal activity in their area. More than 1,500 businesses across Thames Valley have signed up.
“We are lucky to have such a dedicated and innovative PCC in Matthew,” said Alison Andrew. “The big increase in arrests and prosecution of shoplifters, as well as his securing funding for another 68 police officers, show his commitment to tackling the issues important to residents and retailers alike.
“Our group in council is fully committed to supporting and working with the police and Matthew across all of Milton Keynes.”
