A partnership helping businesses report crime, share intelligence and tackle prolific offenders has grown to support around 2,000 businesses and organisations across Devon and Cornwall.

The scheme has attracted support from some of the UK’s biggest retail brands, with national chains including Co-op, SPAR, Matalan, B&M and Sports Direct now signed up, and Sainsbury’s expected to join shortly.

The Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Business Crime Reduction Partnership (DCI:BCRP), funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and delivered through collaboration between UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC), Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC), Exeter Business Against Crime (EBAC), Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), local authorities and Devon & Cornwall Police, continues to expand across the region.

Since January 2026, reports submitted through the SentrySIS platform have generated estimated police savings of more than £154,000 and saved the equivalent of 47 days of officer and staff time across 2,722 incidents.

The benefits are reflected not only in efficiency savings, but also in outcomes. Crime reports submitted through the partnership have achieved a positive outcome rate of 53.3 per cent, significantly higher than offences reported through traditional reporting routes.

The partnership enables businesses to report crime more effectively, share intelligence and work collectively to identify offenders who target multiple locations and communities.

At the heart of the partnership is the SentrySIS reporting and intelligence platform, delivered through UKPAC. The system enables businesses to submit crime reports, CCTV, witness statements and intelligence directly to police, while also supporting information sharing between businesses and community safety partners.

The scheme has also been welcomed by a trader in Torquay, Andrew Bond, who has seen the time needed to report incidents significantly reduced. He praised the positive impact the initiative is having and the results being delivered for the town, helping businesses report crime more quickly and efficiently.

Information submitted through the platform is analysed to identify crime trends, link offences occurring across different locations and build intelligence around prolific and travelling offenders. This helps police and partners develop a clearer picture of criminal activity affecting businesses and communities across Devon and Cornwall.

The partnership also operates 34 location-based communication groups, enabling businesses, police, councils and community safety partners to share information and updates about issues affecting their local areas in real time.

The partnership is also helping tackle prolific offenders who travel between towns and target multiple businesses. Intelligence submitted by different businesses can be linked together, helping officers identify repeat offenders more quickly, develop stronger evidence packages and take earlier enforcement action.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said:

“Businesses should not have to accept theft, abuse and antisocial behaviour as simply part of the job.

“The fact that thousands of businesses and organisations across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are now working together through this partnership sends a strong message that our communities are taking a united approach to business crime.

“Reporting crime is paramount. What might appear to be a single incident for one business could form part of a much wider pattern of offending affecting several businesses across different towns.

“By bringing that information together, the partnership helps identify prolific offenders, strengthen the intelligence available to police and support action against those who repeatedly target our businesses.

“The savings achieved through direct reporting demonstrate the real value of partnership working, helping to free up police resources while ensuring businesses are supported and offenders are brought to justice.

“I would encourage businesses that are not yet involved to find out more and join this growing network.”

Sgt Chris Chaloner, Business Crime and Crime Prevention Sergeant for Devon & Cornwall Police, said:

“Business crime does not stop at town boundaries, and neither should the response to it.

“One of the biggest strengths of the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Business Crime Reduction Partnership is its ability to bring businesses, local authorities, BIDs and police together to share information lawfully and responsibly, helping us identify patterns of offending that may otherwise go unnoticed.

“We are increasingly seeing prolific offenders travel between towns and communities. By combining intelligence from businesses across the region, we can build a much clearer picture of offending behaviour, identify suspects more quickly and take action at an earlier stage.

“The direct-to-police reporting capability available through the partnership is transforming the way we investigate business crime. Reports can be submitted with CCTV, witness statements and supporting evidence from the outset, giving officers the information they need to begin investigations immediately.

“This approach not only reduces police demand but delivers results. Reports submitted through the partnership are achieving significantly higher positive outcomes than those reported through traditional channels, demonstrating the value of quality evidence, timely reporting and strong partnership working.

“Most importantly, it gives businesses confidence that when they report crime, that information contributes to a wider intelligence picture which helps protect other businesses and bring offenders to justice.”

Data highlights that the partnership is tackling far more than shop theft alone. Alongside 812 shop theft incidents reported during July, businesses have also submitted reports relating to aggressive behaviour, verbal abuse, antisocial behaviour, assaults, drug-related activity, fraud, trespass and breaches of Criminal Behaviour Orders.

By capturing information about the full range of incidents affecting businesses, the partnership is helping police and partners address both retail crime and wider community safety concerns.

Members range from independent retailers and hospitality businesses to national operators, alongside BIDs, councils and other community organisations.

Owner of Premier Torquay Central, Andrew Bond, has been using the system since it first launched and says it has significantly reduced the time required to report incidents.

“It is a great tool; it takes 30 seconds to log a small report but 25 minutes to do it through calling 101.

“One man who consistently gave us abuse has now been taken to court and banned from Torquay town centre after we reported him on the platform. “

Businesses interested in joining the partnership can currently receive up to 12 months’ free membership funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the cost is £10 a month if they choose to remain in the scheme after the free trial UKPAC is a not-for-profit co-operative.

Membership provides access to direct-to-police reporting, intelligence sharing, local communication networks, crime prevention support and exclusion schemes designed to help businesses work together to reduce crime and improve community safety.

The partnership operates across communities throughout Devon and Cornwall, including Bodmin, Bude, Camborne, Falmouth, Hayle, Helston, Launceston, Liskeard, Looe, Newquay, Padstow, Penzance, Redruth, Saltash, St Austell, St Ives, Torpoint, Truro and Wadebridge, as well as Barnstaple, Bideford, Dartmouth, Exeter, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, Plymouth, Tavistock, Torbay, Torrington and Yelverton.