The retail sector is one of the most widely impacted when it comes to localised crime. Office of National Statistic figures posted in 2025 cited shoplifting incidents at a 20-year high, noting a sharp rise in incidents following the pandemic.
There is more pressure than ever for retailers to not only take preventative steps against crime before it occurs but also keep up with the requirements of reporting crime in a public facing sector with increasing hours and increased pressure to survive.
Understanding the context and pressures on retailers was essential in providing a solution for UKPAC members, directly response to their cries for a time-saving and effective way to report crime that helps gets results, avoiding despondency and a lack of reporting which creates a skewed picture of crime rates in our communities.
Behind UKPAC sits SentrySIS, a cloud-based digital crime and evidence management system (DEMS) already in use by national retailers, police forces, business crime reduction partnerships (BCRPs) and local authorities across the UK. It’s not just a tool for incident reporting, or a generic form that misses the mark.
It’s bespoke, purpose driven software specifically created to create prosecution-ready digital evidence packs, collect data in the right form (such as MG11 Witness statements) and upload CCTV footage. This coupled with real time data notifications to retails on trends, high risk offenders hotspots, vehicles and repeat offenders not only shares intelligence directly with authorities but allows collaboration and information exchange amongst the retail community within and across towns to unite and not feel so alone.
In the retail space we understand that the impact of crime in the retail space goes way beyond lost revenue. We’re not talking idle shoplifting and one offs, trends show an increasing link to organised crime gangs and violence and abuse toward retail staff, with estimated costs to retailers and customers of £2.2bn a year. The risk to retail staff now is emotional and psychological, the impact of feeling unsafe at work has an untold affect on staff morale and engagement.
Whilst we are aware of the sheer scale of the issue, we believe our members with the support of SentrySIS, have the power to turn the tide on retail crime. The numbers are already speaking for themselves, with over £38m in recovered stolen stock for retailers nationwide to date, and over 8,000+ digital evidence packs submitted to police and CPS. The system so far holds over 75,000 offender profiles and 278,000 recorded incidents across the UK.
We’ve worked hard to deliver the tools you need to make your voice heard, and a collective effort to access them creates a united voice against localised retail crime. With funding securing a free year’s membership for retailers in certain regions – there’s no better time to join and make your voice heard. Find out more here.