Businesses across Torbay are being invited to join a pioneering initiative to combat retail crime, thanks to a 12-month pilot project funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.
Local retailers can now access a free one-year subscription to UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC), a business crime reduction solution that uses the advanced capabilities of SentrySIS - a national crime intelligence platform designed to help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour on Britain’s high streets.
UKPAC’s system, powered by SentrySIS, offers businesses a quicker and easier way to report shoplifting, incidents directly to the police. It enables the seamless sharing of intelligence between businesses and enforcement agencies, streamlining the crime-fighting process while making communities safer.
This initiative forms part of Street Focus: Torquay, a wider multi-agency programme aimed at addressing antisocial behaviour and improving safety in key parts of the town, including Castle Circus and the surrounding town centre.
Commissioner Hernandez said: “Retail crime is not just a business issue — it impacts the whole community, from safety and investment to the vibrancy of our town centres. This pilot gives traders in Torbay the tools to take a stand and work together with police and partners to hold offenders to account and make our streets safer.
If you’re a business that’s being affected by shoplifting or antisocial behaviour, or if you’re worried about the effect crime in general is having on the high street, please sign up. It takes just a couple of minutes to report and UKPAC will help the police to build a picture and bring persistent offenders to justice.”
How SentrySIS Powers the Fight Against Retail Crime
SentrySIS is the UK’s leading digital intelligence and incident reporting system used by police forces, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs), and major high street retailers. By integrating seamlessly with UKPAC’s platform, SentrySIS ensures that local businesses in Torbay are not only able to report incidents quickly but are also supported by a national-level data and intelligence infrastructure.
Key benefits SentrySIS brings to retailers using the UKPAC platform include:
- Instant digital crime reporting: Submit detailed incident reports within minutes via web or mobile app
- Regional intelligence sharing: Access a real-time offender database used by UKPAC and retailers across the region
- Repeat offender identification: Recognise and monitor persistent offenders through pattern tracking tools
- Evidence and image uploads: Attach CCTV footage, photos, and witness statements to strengthen police cases
- GDPR-compliant system: Operates within strict legal frameworks for data protection and sharing
- Secure, cloud-based access: Safe, encrypted system that can be used in-store or remotely
- Enhanced police collaboration: Information from SentrySIS helps police build better case files and target offenders faster
- Reduced time loss for businesses: Automation and templates reduce admin overhead for staff
- Supports community safety goals: Enables businesses to be active partners in making high streets safer
A Proven Solution Already in Use Across the South Coast
The adoption of UKPAC powered by SentrySIS in Torbay builds on the success of similar deployments elsewhere in the South West and South Coast. SentrySIS is already active in Exeter, where businesses have been using the system to reduce crime, share intelligence, and strengthen ties with local policing teams. It is also being used as part of broader retail crime reduction efforts in Hampshire, including by Hampshire Police, who have embraced SentrySIS to help improve how information is gathered, shared, and acted upon in partnership with local retailers.
This growing footprint means that retail crime is now being tackled more consistently across the region. With towns and cities connected through a shared platform, offenders who operate across county lines are more easily tracked and held accountable. The data and intelligence being gathered in places like Exeter, Hampshire, and now Torbay is helping to create a more joined-up approach to crime reduction that benefits the entire South West.
Retailers Encouraged to Sign Up Now
UKPAC is using SentrySIS as the core system to underpin their work in Torbay, offering a tried-and-tested solution that is already helping reduce crime in towns and cities across the UK.
Gareth Lewis, UKPAC chairman, said: “We’re proud to be working alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall on this forward-thinking initiative to tackle business crime in Torbay. This pilot project gives local businesses free access to UKPAC’s crime reporting and intelligence-sharing system, making it easier to submit incidents and build a clearer picture of the offenders causing the most harm across the area. The impact of business crime goes far beyond financial loss. It affects staff morale, customer confidence, and the overall sense of safety in our communities. By improving how incidents are reported and evidence is shared, we can support the police to take faster, more targeted action and reduce the disruption and harm caused to local businesses. We look forward to supporting businesses in Torbay and helping to create a safer, stronger community for all.”
Backed by Devon & Cornwall Police and Local Agencies
The UKPAC/SentrySIS platform is not being used in isolation. It is a key part of the Street Focus: Torquay programme, which includes a wide range of partners such as Devon & Cornwall Police, Torbay Council, SWISCo, and community groups — all working together to improve conditions in the town centre.
Inspector Rob Harvey, Inspector for Torquay, said: “We are looking forward to working with UKPAC to send a clear message that crime against businesses in Torbay will not be tolerated. We want to respond to the crimes and issues that are causing the most harm to our community, the information and intelligence we will get from UKPAC will be invaluable to direct our teams and achieve better outcomes more quickly. Our Street Focus work continues to be a priority for the Torquay Neighbourhood Team and working with the business community alongside UKPAC will further strengthen our ambitions to provide a safe town centre for everyone.”
With crime reduction increasingly reliant on real-time intelligence and digital reporting, SentrySIS provides an essential bridge between business communities and the police.
Its use across Exeter, Hampshire, and now Torbay represents a growing regional alliance committed to smarter crime prevention. As more locations join this network, the South West is becoming a stronger and more unified front in the fight against retail crime.
Retailers interested in signing up to the free pilot scheme can contact UKPAC or visit www.uk-pac.com for more information. Organisations wanting to find out more about SentrySIS can click on our website at www.sentrysis.com