Are Smarter Crime Reports Turning the Tide for Devon and Cornwall Shops?

Devon and Cornwall Police say they are seeing better results when retailers report offences through a crime intelligence platform rather than through traditional routes like 101 or the Force website.

Higher Charge Rates Through Auror

The Force has confirmed a 9.4 percent higher criminal charge rate for cases reported via the Auror platform. Devon and Cornwall Police were the first in the country to adopt direct to police reporting through Auror, which went live in October 2024.

Retailers enter information directly into the system, which helps officers spot repeat and high harm offenders, focus on hotspot areas and start building stronger evidence files from the beginning.

According to the Force, the higher quality of information supplied at the first point of contact supports faster and more effective investigations.

Better Engagement From Victims

Police say they have also seen victims stay more engaged with the process when reports come through Auror. Only 3.6 percent of victims withdraw support for further action when reporting via the platform, compared to 16.6 percent through other channels.

They believe the improvement is linked to the completeness of the evidence retailers can provide through Auror, which encourages people to see cases through until a suspect is caught and charged.

Police View on the Impact

T/Chief Superintendent Antony Hart, Force Business Crime lead, said:
“The Auror platform has improved the way we respond to, and investigate, retail crime. It gives us instant access to quality intelligence and evidence, allowing us to identify offenders more quickly and protect our communities more effectively. We’ve already seen how this partnership leads to stronger cases and more positive results for victims. Evidence gathered through Auror has directly supported Court applications and longer-term orders that help reduce reoffending and protect retail staff.

“We know that retail crime is still under-reported, but we can only tackle what we know about. By working with businesses to share vital information and intelligence using the crime intelligence platforms they use, such as Auror, we can build a clearer picture of offending patterns and take proactive steps to prevent and detect crime. Working together, we can make our communities safer for everyone.”

National Interest in the Findings

Learning from Devon and Cornwall Police’s use of Auror has now been published by the College of Policing. The article can be viewed on the College’s website under Auror – direct to police reporting and retail crime intelligence platform, available here:
Auror – direct to police reporting and retail crime intelligence platform | College of Policing