Police and businesses are planning a summit meeting in November to tackle the dramatic rise in retail crime in Trowbridge.

Trowbridge Police and Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce will invite retailers to the meeting held from 2pm to 3pm on Tuesday, November 5 at The Civic Centre.

Sgt Charly Chilton, of Trowbridge Community Policing Team, said: “This meeting will give retailers an opportunity to discuss the issues that they are currently experiencing as well as for the local Neighbourhood Policing Team to talk through the work that they are currently doing to tackle shoplifting and associated offences.

“Further details will be provided to retailers in the coming weeks.”

Kez Garner, chair of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce, said: “We will discuss local retail crime figures and trends and look at strategies for improvement.

“We will also be exchanging information with police to encourage businesses to report all anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other offences.

“Our aim is to support businesses with the chance to sign up to our town centre StoreNet radio system and encourage more CCTV.”

The move follows a dramatic increase in retail crime, including shoplifting thefts, particularly from convenience stores and supermarkets.

Recent figures shared with town councillors show an uplift in crime in Trowbridge so far this year compared to the same period last year.

There was an increase of 51 crimes reported to 2,180 for the eight months to August, compared to 2,129 for the same period last year, a rise of 2.4 per cent.

The police report said: “Theft offences are showing as a ‘one month’ high exception, this is where we have seen slightly higher number of offences that we would expect to.

“In the month of August, 14 theft offences were reported for this area. Of these offences, 12 relate to shoplifting offences. These incidents are still being investigated at this time.”