Met Police rolls out retail crime tech to eight boroughs

The Metropolitan Police is expanding a new crime-reporting technology across London to combat retail crime, following a successful pilot in six boroughs. The system allows retailers to submit CCTV footage and witness statements directly to officers, dramatically speeding up investigations and leading to a quadrupling of the rate at which offenders face legal action.

The technology, which major chains including Tesco, Boots, Marks & Spencer, and Greggs are already using, enables police to access evidence within minutes instead of waiting up to 28 days or longer. According to police data, when the system is used, a caution, charge, or other criminal disposal occurs in 29.4 percent of cases, compared to an average of 7.3 percent before its implementation.

The initial rollout covered Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. The expansion, which began on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, extends access to retailers in eight additional boroughs: Southwark, Lambeth, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley, Hillingdon, Ealing, and Hounslow. More boroughs are expected to follow in the coming months.

Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met's lead for business...