Overview

• More than 500 towns across England and Wales have enrolled in the Safer Streets summer blitz, which will run until September 30.
• The Home Office has earmarked £200 million for the initiative, part of a wider guarantee to hire thousands of neighbourhood officers with named points of contact for communities.
• Police will intensify town centre patrols in response to a 20% surge in shoplifting, which saw half a million offences recorded last year.
• Police and crime commissioners in regions including Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Humberside, Devon and Cornwall have drawn up local action plans to coordinate enforcement.
• Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the measures would help revive high street footfall, a view shared by retailers who welcomed stronger protection for staff.