An operation targeting prolific offenders in Southend city centre has led to 28 people being charged with more than 300 offences.
Operation Raker was launched in September 2023 after research showed a significant proportion of crimes in retail premises – such as thefts and assaults – were being committed by repeat offenders.
Collaborative Efforts
Two officers from Southend Town Centre Team have been working with the council’s community safety officers, BID (Business Improvement District) rangers and retailers for the last seven months to identify and arrest individuals and prevent their offending from escalating.
This had led to 13 people being sentenced to a total of more than seven years in prison, twelve criminal behaviour orders (CBOs) being issued, and the award of more than £13,000 in compensation. Eight other offenders have been remanded in prison or are on bail pending sentencing.
Sergeant Steve Wells of Southend Town Centre Team said: “By targeting repeat offenders we are making the centre of Southend a safer place to work and shop. “The individuals who are committing offences like theft, robbery, burglary and anti-social behaviour are being dealt with quicker, and they’re committing fewer crimes than they were previously. This reduces the numbers of victims and retailers that are exposed to harm or loss.
Fostering Partnerships
“The local partnerships we’ve built are the key to the operation. The sharing of knowledge and information has become seamless. Preventing this type of offending is a priority for us as it has such a detrimental effect on businesses and the community. “The ultimate goal is for people to see and experience less crime, and the positive feedback we are getting from victims, businesses, the public and our partners is what we measure ourselves on.”
Scott Dolling, manager of Southend BID said: “The operation’s strategic role seems to have paid dividends on some repeat issues we experience in the high street environment. This coordinated approach is one we wholeheartedly support and hope will continue into the future.”
Manager Praises Officers
The manager of a service station that had been targeted added: “We’d be lost without them (the Raker officers). I can’t praise them enough. It can be so frustrating to have these people keep stealing from our shop, but Essex Police come in so regularly, they take our reports and are so quick to catch them.”
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