Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has acknowledged the success of two determined individuals whose efforts are helping to combat retail crime by presenting them with awards.
Andrew Bond, owner of Torquay family-run business Premier Torbay Central , was presented with the Business Community Champion Award – sponsored by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – at Torbay Business Awards last week.
It was the first of 14 awards to be presented on the night, with Andrew recognised for demonstrating “exceptional resilience, innovation and community leadership in the face of escalating retail crime in Torquay”.
The Commissioner also thanked the other three finalists in the Business Community Champion Award category.
Tom Sharp, CEO of Platinum Security, has been an integral part of the night time economy in Torquay which includes supplying Street Marshals, taxi marshals and door supervisors which is central to a safe night time for a number of establishments across the town.
Anthony Jones who owns Otto and Twenty1 Lounge, is chairman of the Torquay Independent Business Owners and brings together licensees from across the Torquay Harbourside to ensure improvements in the public realm and within the establishments to keep people safe on a night out. He has also encouraged investment by partners to improve street lighting.
Richard Randle-Jones, Union Square Shopping Centre Manager, gave the OPCC and the police the loan of an empty shop which was used to encourage the reporting of crime in the area to Crimestoppers and was also used for police drop-in sessions. It gave a high visibility to efforts being made to tackle issues in the area. He has also been instrumental in helping police tackle shoplifting and ASB within the shopping centre itself.
Winner Andrew, who accepted the award on behalf of himself and his partner Deb, said: “Deb and I were shocked and surprised to win the award. We are thankful the work we do is recognised and what we try to achieve to make Torquay town centre a better and safer place. It’s lovely to be recognised as an independent business.”
In his award nomination, Andrew was also praised for embracing a new innovative business crime reduction solution called UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC). It was introduced in Torbay in spring 2025 as part of the Street Focus Torquay initiative funded for 12 months by the OPCC and is largely used to report shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.
Premier Torbay Central became one of the first local business owners to adopt the system having been blighted by persistent shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. By encouraging other local businesses to join UKPAC, it has amplified its positive impact with convictions secured.
Commissioner Hernandez also acknowledged the successes achieved through UKPAC by recently presenting a Commissioner’s Award to Sgt Chris Chaloner who is responsible for Business Crime & Crime Prevention within Devon & Cornwall Police’s prevention department. It is a special award that recognises outstanding service provided by an individual to help keep communities safe, resilient and connected.
Sgt Chaloner leads a team of four Crime Prevention Tactical Advisors who provide specialist advice to police officers and staff, mainly Neighbourhood Policing Teams, and using best practice methods, tools and initiatives from across the country that help reduce crime and from it occurring in the first place. A key part of the success the team has achieved is working with partner agencies to create a joined-up approach to crime prevention.
Another part of Chris’s role is working heavily alongside business communities to improve the service the police provide to help with issues they are experiencing such as shop theft, violence and abuse.
Sgt Chaloner, who also represents the force at a national level, working alongside the National Business Crime Centre and National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Reported retail crime in Devon and Cornwall is lower compared to a lot of other forces across the country and remains a very safe place to live, work and visit.
“But we have seen large increases of reported shop theft, particularly during 2023/24. Understanding that these issues exist, the impact it has on our communities and providing resource to improve our response, has allowed us to explore new innovative ways of dealing with this by utilising new technology and spending more time working collaboratively with those impacted.
“I have great relationships with lots of retailers, and I am pleased with the progress we have made over the past couple of years, particularly with the introduction of ‘direct to police reporting’ which has increased efficiency and positive outcomes for policing and our retailers across Devon and Cornwall.”
Commissioner Hernandez has expressed her thanks to all three award winners for their exceptional contributions that are helping to combat retail crime.
She said: “I am extremely grateful to our award winners who have demonstrated admirable determination to make our towns and communities safer for everyone.
“Retail crime is not just a business issue — it impacts the whole community, from safety and investment to the vibrancy of our town centres.
“My office remains committed to tackling retail crime, ASB and violence through initiatives such as UKPAC. If you’re a business that’s being affected by shoplifting or ASB, or if you’re worried about the effect crime in general is having on the high street, please sign up. It takes just a couple of minutes to report and UKPAC will help the police to build a picture and bring persistent offenders to justice.”
For more information about UKPAC, visit https://uk-pac.com/