In a major step forward for public safety and business security, Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC) has launched the SentrySIS platform across the city. This advanced crime prevention system will strengthen the partnership’s efforts to tackle retail crime, anti-social behaviour, and organised offending in Plymouth’s city centre.
Technology-Driven Partnership to Protect Plymouth
PARC has teamed up with SentrySIS, one of the UK’s most advanced digital crime intelligence platforms, to give its members access to real-time intelligence, incident tracking and offender profiling. The rollout marks a new chapter in PARC’s work and reinforces its close collaboration with Devon & Cornwall Police, Plymouth City Council, Safer Plymouth and other key local agencies.
The SentrySIS platform is already making an impact in other South West locations such as Exeter, and Plymouth’s adoption of the system further strengthens regional crime-fighting efforts.
Ian Warmington and Martin Worthington, Crime Mangers at Plymouth Against Retail Crime which oversees PARC, jointly said: "We are delighted to announce the launch of an innovative new system through the partnership of Plymouth Against Retail Crime and SentrySIS. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in our collective mission to make Plymouth a safer, more resilient environment for businesses and the community alike.
The integration of SentrySIS’ cutting-edge technology with the local expertise and dedication of Plymouth Against Retail Crime, will empower retailers with real-time insights, streamlined reporting, and enhanced communication. By harnessing the power of advanced analytics and shared intelligence, this system sets a new benchmark for proactive crime prevention. We believe this partnership not only strengthens our defences against retail crime but also unites stakeholders in a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility. Together, we are building a foundation for safer high streets, a more confident business community, and a welcoming city for all."
The introduction of SentrySIS provides PARC members with:
- Instant access to real-time crime data, allowing businesses to respond quickly to incidents.
- Digital galleries of known and unknown offenders, improving the visibility of repeat offenders in the city.
- Direct messaging between businesses and police officers, enabling fast and secure intelligence sharing.
- Incident reporting tools, including mobile photo/video uploads to streamline evidence collection.
- CCTV video playback tools, allowing cctv to be watched with ease.
- GDPR-compliant cloud infrastructure, ensuring data security and user confidence.
- Heat maps and data insights, giving members strategic oversight of crime trends across Plymouth.
These tools not only allow retailers to log and track crime more efficiently but also give city partners a unified digital platform to tackle persistent offenders and coordinate enforcement actions.
The rollout of SentrySIS will significantly support the day-to-day work of PARC Rangers, who patrol the city centre and act as a visible deterrent to crime and disorder. Rangers will now be able to access live intelligence, view offender galleries, and report incidents directly into the platform while out on patrol using the SentrySIS mobile app.
This means they can identify known offenders in real time, alert retailers and police officers instantly, and contribute to an up-to-date picture of emerging criminal patterns across the city. It also improves how evidence, including photos, video and witness statements, is gathered and shared, resulting in more informed decision-making by all parties involved.
Feeding Into Wider City Crime Prevention Strategy
SentrySIS integrates with broader crime prevention initiatives in Plymouth, including Safer Plymouth, Plymouth City Council’s Community Connections Team, and Devon & Cornwall Police. By joining up intelligence across these groups, the platform ensures that resources are better allocated and responses are coordinated.
Strategic partners will be able to use SentrySIS to analyse hotspots, monitor repeat offenders, and contribute to multi-agency interventions aimed at reducing harm and anti-social behaviour. This data-driven approach supports longer-term objectives around community safety, enforcement, and public reassurance across Plymouth.
Importantly, PARC members can now share relevant intelligence securely with neighbouring and regional crime partnerships, such as Exeter Business Against Crime (EBAC), UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) across the South Coast or any other SentrySIS using installations within the Devon & Cornwall police force area. This information sharing helps tackle travelling offenders and organised crime groups operating across multiple towns and cities in the South West.
Empowering Plymouth Pubwatch Scheme
The city's Pubwatch members, who work together to create safer night-time environments, will also benefit from the system. Licensed premises can use SentrySIS to stay alert to individuals who are barred or pose a risk to staff and customers.
With real-time notifications, photos, and incident logs, Pubwatch participants will be better informed and connected, improving communication between venues and authorities. This collaborative use of intelligence helps prevent trouble before it starts, supports licensing compliance, and strengthens the partnership between hospitality businesses and police.
One of the most heavily used features in Plymouth’s rollout is Connect Live, a secure real-time messaging and multimedia intelligence-sharing tool within the SentrySIS app. Connect Live allows PARC members, Rangers, police, and Pubwatch participants to:
- Communicate instantly through secure, GDPR-compliant messaging.
- Create dedicated group chats for specific areas or projects.
- Share images and videos directly from mobile devices.
- Reduce reliance on third-party messaging platforms.
This feature ensures that important updates, such as sightings of known offenders, details of ongoing incidents, or urgent safety alerts, can be shared instantly with those who need to know. It has already proven invaluable in enabling quicker interventions, more coordinated responses, and improved evidence gathering.
Chris Nriapia of SentrySIS commented: "We're proud to support PARC and the businesses of Plymouth as part of our growing South West network. Alongside partnerships in Exeter and across the UKPAC network along the South Coast, SentrySIS is helping police and business crime partnerships share intelligence, track offenders and coordinate responses across borders. By connecting Plymouth into this wider intelligence network, we’re enabling faster, smarter, and more collaborative crime prevention with the police and our partners. We’re excited to see the positive results this will bring for the city and the region."
Looking Ahead
With the system now fully operational in Plymouth, PARC can will build on this momentum by strengthening links with other South West crime partnerships, including Exeter’s EBAC and UKPAC regional coverage across the South Coast. By sharing intelligence, coordinating enforcement, and working closely with Devon & Cornwall Police, this connected approach aims to tackle cross-border offending and make the entire region a more hostile environment for repeat offenders and organised crime groups.
For retailers and businesses in Plymouth, joining PARC and accessing SentrySIS enhances local security and also contributes to a united regional effort to keep communities safe.
To find out more about joining PARC, visit www.parcplymouth.com or email info@parcplymouth.com. For more on the SentrySIS platform, visit www.sentrysis.com.