Awards for cutting thefts in Liverpool

Two officers from Liverpool City Centre’s Neighbourhood Policing Team have received national recognition for their outstanding efforts to reduce theft.

Sergeant Craig Winstanley and Constable Samantha Downey received the ‘Most Innovative Acquisitive Crime Reduction Project’ award at last week’s National Acquisitive Crime Conference Awards.

The awards celebrate exceptional efforts to tackle acquisitive and cycle crime, recognising individuals, teams, and projects that have made a significant impact through innovation, collaboration, and dedication.

Theft offences can have a profound and lasting impact on victims, often leaving them feeling violated, anxious, and unsafe in their own communities.

With theft from person incidents on the rise in the city centre in 2022, Sergeant Winstanley and Constable Downey launched a focused operation aimed at disrupting offenders, supporting victims, and reducing incidents. While stolen items included wallets, purses, and cash, mobile phones made up the majority of reported thefts.

The extensive operation includes high-visibility patrols in hotspot locations, collaboration with licensed premises to implement preventative measures, engagement with second-hand shops to identify stolen property, and the use of the city’s extensive CCTV network.

Officers also issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs) to deter repeat offending. These notices can be issued to anyone aged 16 or over, requiring them to stop certain behaviours and take steps to prevent them from recurring.

Mobile phone marking events are also held at transport hubs, student accommodation and high-footfall shopping and night-time economy areas. These events give the public the opportunity to have their phones uniquely marked for free, helping officers to quickly identify and return stolen phones to victims. During the events, the team have marked an average of 40 mobile phones per hour.

As a result of the ongoing operation, reported theft from person incidents in Liverpool City Centre have dropped by more than a half in three years – from 1,360 reported incidents in 2022/23 to 490 in 2024/25.

This sustained downward trend means there have been 870 fewer victims of theft in the city centre. It is estimated that around £500,000 worth of property has been prevented from being stolen, based on the average value of a mobile phone.

The number of theft offences that have been solved has also increased significantly, with detection rates rising year-on-year as a result of the Neighbourhood Policing Team’s work.

This success reflects the Liverpool City Centre team's commitment to not only preventing crime but also ensuring offenders are brought to justice, reinforcing public confidence in policing across the city centre.

Sergeant Craig Winstanley said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive this award. It’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the entire team, and our commitment to making Liverpool a safer place for everyone who lives, works, or visits here.

“The work we’ve done has not only helped reduce thefts but also supported Liverpool City Centre’s successful Purple Flag accreditation – an internationally recognised award for excellence in managing a safe and vibrant night-time economy. To see Liverpool receive this for the 15^th consecutive year is a real testament to the partnership work happening across the city.”

Constable Samantha Downey added: “Tackling theft is about more than just recovering stolen items. It’s about protecting people and preventing them from becoming victims in the first place.”

“The operation also includes co-ordinating search warrants with other force areas and working closely with both internal teams and external partners. Many criminal groups target different areas across the North West and the UK, so this joint approach is bringing forces together to disrupt offenders and prevent further victims.

“Our goal has always been to reduce theft from person offences in Liverpool City Centre, and while there’s still work to do, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far.”

The award win coincides with the Safer Streets Summer campaign, bringing more visible policing to local town centres. Residents can expect to see increased uniformed patrols, officers engaging directly with the community and targeted operations tackling issues like antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, violence, and knife crime.

The work of Sergeant Winstanley, Constable Downey and team reflects a continued commitment to proactive, community first policing, helping people feel safer not just this summer, but well into the future.