COPS have been labelled ‘lazy’ after Morrisons stores began installing touchscreens to help clock more crime.
The state-of-the-art devices are being rolled out across supermarkets in Bedfordshire – beginning with Shefford – in a bid to improve reporting rates.
Bedfordshire PoliceTouchscreen police terminals are being installed in Morrisons supermarkets for shoppers to report crime[/caption]
The force plans on installing more terminals in Leighton Buzzard, Houghton Regis and Bedford, a spokesperson told The Sun.
Shoppers will also have access to non-emergency policing services, including reporting an incident, victim care support and submitting intelligence and feedback.
It is hoped the partnership will improve accessibility to policing and support services.
However, it’s been met with negativity online, with some people joking shoppers should be getting paid to do it.
One said: “Sounds like a recipe for malicious acts and pranksters to just waste everyone’s time.”
Another said: “So you have people openly snitching on people plain as day for all to see. I can see where this is going already.”
A third said: “I think a local police station with officers in them would work a lot better. Broken Britain.”
A fourth said: “Is this like self service tills? And if this is the police’s way of getting the trust of the public, how about getting out into the community and showing your faces and work with the public and not to treat them all as criminals?
“It’s called hearts and minds, the police force of today is broken, just like this country.”
A fifth added: “The police need to do there own work… wanting the people to grass.”
Another said: “You can report crime. Unless it’s laid on a plate the police do naff all.”
One commenter asked: “Do we get paid? Might as well if we’re doing their job.”
Another joked: “Is it called the snitch-omatic?”
And another added: “What a waste of money. Police should be on street. Lazy.”
Graham Wynn, Assistant Director of Business Regulation at the BRC, told The Sun: “Stealing – however small – is not a victimless crime.
“The £1.8bn a year lost to shop theft would be better spent investing in lower prices and better service for customers.
“Meanwhile, retailers are forced to spend a further £1.2bn a year on anti-crime measures such as CCTV, security personnel, security tags, and other anti-theft devices.
“More police action is needed as without an effective deterrent, criminals will continue to steal with impunity.”
Phil Eaton, Project Manager at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said: “We’ve seen a positive uptake of the terminals at the universities and have since installed one at Caddington Community Centre, following feedback from residents wanting other ways to access policing services.”
Carl Probert, Morrisons Corporate Protection Manager, said: “This is a collaborative approach whereby Morrisons is assisting Bedfordshire police to help report and reduce crime in the local community.
“We are fully supportive of the scheme and pleased to hear of its initial success.”
Mr Akinbusoye said: “I’m really pleased with this partnership arrangement with Morrisons.
“We are addressing the challenges of communities by continually looking at ways to improve access to policing services for our residents, so having these terminals in local Morrisons stores is a welcomed addition and start.
“I want to ensure we take advantage of technology to make policing work better for local people, and I anticipate further options such as getting updates on reported crimes and a victim’s portal to feature in the near future.”
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