Police patrols target shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in Worthing

The patrols are aimed at ‘supporting local businesses’ and ‘providing reassurance to the wider community’, with activity focused on key areas, including the Guildbourne Centre.

An Adur and Worthing Police Facebook post – on Friday, March 20 – read: “Our officers have been out on high-visibility patrols in Worthing town centre.

“Whilst out officers spent time speaking with business owners and members of the public to listen to any concerns, offer advice, and address issues currently affecting those who live and work in the area.”

Police said their patrols also ‘serve as a deterrent to shoplifting and anti-social behaviour’.

They added: “As we move into the spring months and footfall across the town increases, our neighbourhood policing team will continue to carry out regular patrols.

"We remain committed to working in partnership with local businesses and the community to ensure Worthing remains a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

More than 140 people have left comments, in response to the police’s advisory notice.

One resident wrote: “I hope this will help poor Worthing … it’s such a shame these days how it has gone downhill. So much anti-social behaviour does it absolutely no favours. Many, including me in the main, avoid it now.”

It was also suggested that police officers ‘should be doing this at night’ but whilst ‘wearing normal clothes’.

This comes after a recent study by LEI Register ranked Worthing as the worst UK area for recorded shoplifting incidents.

Using ONS, NISRA, and Scottish Government data, the researchers claimed that Worthing came out at the top of the list – with 231.79 shoplifting incidents per 10,000 residents.

The researchers said: “To put it in context, the average rate across the top ten areas is around 171 incidents per 10,000 people, so Worthing sits well above that, showing that shoplifting is proportionally more common here than in almost anywhere else in the country.”

A second, separate study – by commercial security systems provider Avigilon – analysed data from the Office for National Statistics. This covered shoplifting incidents across the UK over 12 months.

This identified the total number of shoplifting incidents recorded by area, as well as the proportion of shoplifting incidents compared to all recorded crime.

The number of shoplifting incidents in each area scaled per 1,000 local population ranked those most vulnerable to shoplifting.

Westminster recorded the highest rate of shoplifting, with 25.26 incidents per 1,000 residents in the last year.

Worthing ranked second with 22.8 incidents per 1,000 people. The seaside town's shoplifting rate was particularly notable as these incidents made up one of the highest proportions in the UK, at 25 per cent of all crime in the area.

Neighbouring Worthing, Adur ranked third on the list, with 21.19 incidents per 1,000 residents. According to the findings, 28.4 per cent, or more than one in four of all crimes reported in the area over the year, were shoplifting. This is the highest proportion revealed across all 290 locations analysed.