The first in a series of crime intelligence briefings aimed at tackling retail crime in Stirling has taken place, with more sessions scheduled and a renewed call for city centre businesses to get involved.
Hosted by Go Forth Stirling BID and Retailers Against Crime (RAC), the initial meeting was held on Tuesday 15 July. Local business owners, Stirling Council representatives, Police Scotland officers, and RAC experts gathered to discuss the latest shoplifting trends and explore practical solutions to combat the rise in retail crime and anti-social behaviour.
One of the key tools highlighted during the session was SentrySIS, a secure intelligence-sharing system which gives users real-time updates on criminal activity, including images of known offenders and details of recent incidents. The platform also allows retailers to log evidence, build incident reports, and collaborate more effectively with police.
Go Forth Stirling provides free access to SentrySIS for all BID levy-paying businesses, and is encouraging more retailers to sign up. Businesses outside the BID zone can also gain access by enquiring about voluntary membership.
Fiona McMillan, Go Forth’s Community Engagement and Business Improvement Officer, said:
‘Our partnership with RAC enables us to provide the SentrySIS platform to support our businesses and invest in community safety. It’s vital that incidents are reported so we can share intelligence, deter repeat offenders and send a clear message: Stirling is not open for crime.’
RAC’s Stephanie Karté, National Operations Manager, demonstrated the effectiveness of the system and emphasised the importance of collaboration:
‘These briefings are about more than sharing information – they’re about building a united front. The more businesses that use SentrySIS to report and receive alerts, the better we can protect our city centre. It’s already proving successful across Scotland, helping police track down and charge repeat offenders.’
Karté also shared figures showing a 26% increase in losses reported by RAC members over the past year — totalling £1.85 million — alongside a rising number of violent incidents in retail spaces.
The meeting also heard firsthand accounts from local retailers and taxi operators who described the impact of persistent theft and disruptive behaviour on their livelihoods.
Two more briefings are scheduled at the Golden Lion Hotel – the next on Tuesday 16 September and the final session on Tuesday 18 November, both starting at 9:30am. The upcoming September session will feature RAC Intelligence Co-ordinator Natasa Wilson, who will showcase the latest shoplifting tactics and share footage of how organised crime groups operate.
Businesses are urged to attend, whether to share their concerns, learn more about current trends, or begin using the SentrySIS platform.
