SAFER – Angel Police Team’s ‘Operation Wing’ takes flight
Over the last couple of months, the Angel Police Team, which is funded by angel.london, launched ‘Operation Wing’. The proactive theft operation targets suspects operating in specific areas of the BID and includes three aspects:
- Linking with staff and security personnel from retailers, inviting them to share any suspicious activity through a closed ‘WhatsApp Group. Officers then conducted observations in the area, responding immediately to any suspicions raised
- Undertaking a covert presence within, and close to, specific retailers that have experienced high levels of theft
- Conducting uniform patrols around the BID to increase visibility and speaking to retailers to provide reassurance.
The operation has already produced some positive results including proactive ‘stop & search’ that resulted in an arrest for shoplifting.