About 1,100 shoplifting crimes were reported in the Isle of Wight in the twelve months leading up to August 2025. That figure represented a 22.7% increase in shoplifting crimes compared to the same period the previous year. This is according to a crime report by Plumplot.
Crime is increasing, and the small retailers on the Isle of Wight are working hard to counter these cases. Businesses have deployed some of the latest tech gear to get ahead of the problem. They’re also working with local authorities.
Here are some of the initiatives retailers have taken to strengthen their defences and fight crime.
Business crime partnership
The business community on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire entered into a partnership with the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in 2024. The partnership, which was announced in October 2024 by Commissioner Donna Jones, aims to combat crime in the area through several strategic measures.
For starters, the partnership aims to encourage information sharing between the business community and the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Small retailers are encouraged to report all sorts of crimes, even the seemingly minor ones.
Better reporting helps the police identify patterns that can help with a better response.
Effective reporting also helps the police know where to focus their resources within the area. That improves response times and can even discourage criminals from targeting retailers in the first place.
But it’s not just the businesses that are expected to share information. The office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is also expected to share information regarding offenders and what is being done to prevent crime. The goal is to make sure all the small retailers are aware of repeat offenders and the crime hotspots within the area.
Installation of surveillance systems
Technology has also been at the forefront in fighting crime in the Isle of Wight. Both the business community and the local authorities are using technology to deal with crime.
For example, in July 2025, the Police and Crime Commissioner reported that they were adding more officers to the County Watch Rural Crime Task Force. In addition to that, he discussed how the officers will be using technology like thermal imaging and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to track offenders.
On the other hand, Isle of Wight businesses are strengthening their defences through POE camera systems. POE cameras use Power over Ethernet technology, which has helped businesses install more efficient surveillance systems compared to traditional cameras.
With POE, the camera receives power and sends data via a single Ethernet cable. That’s unlike traditional CCTV cameras, which require two separate cables for power and data transfer.
Besides the cameras, some retailers are investing in alarm systems and electronic article surveillance (EAS). EAS allows businesses to tag items with a magnetic strip or a tiny transmitter. The tag triggers the store’s alarm systems at the exit door, should a criminal try to exit the store with the tag still intact.
Support for the National Safer Business Action Week by the Constabulary
In 2024, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary joined other partners and the business community in support of the National Safer Business Action Week (SaBA). The police moved around the counties, engaging local retailers to understand some of the security issues businesses deal with.
The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the collaboration between local businesses and the police in fighting all types of crimes, from shoplifting to violence towards retail workers and even organised crime.
The partnership has already resulted in tangible results, according to reports from the Constabulary. They explained that following feedback from the business community in the previous year, they were able to charge 47 individuals in connection with 557 crimes within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight counties.
Joining crime prevention schemes
Crime prevention schemes are proving to be effective at dealing with crime in the Isle of Wight. These schemes encourage retailers to engage and work together by sharing information related to crimes. They include:
- Business Improvement District (BID) – BID is a body led and funded by local businesses representing a specific commercial area. The businesses within that area work with the local authorities to create a safe and secure business environment.
- Shopwatch – This is a community-based scheme that encourages communication between the local police and retailers to fight crime.
- Pubwatch – The scheme fights anti-social behaviour resulting from alcohol and substance abuse.
The Police and Security (PaS) is another business-led crime prevention scheme that brings the police and the private security industry together. It aims to improve collaboration, communication, and feedback-sharing. Small retailers on the Isle of Wight sign up to receive weekly security updates from the PaS.
