By Laurie Watson

THREE OF Dundee’s seven groundbreaking retail Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have been breached in the past three months.

But the man responsible for their pioneering introduction believes welcoming in 2006 from Perth Prison proves the system is working.

From his time as a sergeant with Tayside police and, more recently, as manager of Dundee Co-ordinated Anti-crime Network (DUNCAN), Iain Bowles is highly experienced at dealing with the damaging effects of shoplifting.

He believes Dundee’s introduction of retail ASBOs at the start of the year has provided him with a valuable weapon.

“Alongside increased numbers of city centre wardens and a stronger working relationship with retailers, we have pioneered the use of the retail ASBO linked to specific premises who are members of the DUNCAN crime partnership,” he explained.

“We were the first area in Scotland to do that and there have been seven so far.

“Three of those have been breached but I would say to those who view that as a failure to think again because it is in fact proof that the system is working.”

The three offenders appeared before a sheriff and were now paying the price, he said.

“People want us to be tough on crime and I believe that the ASBOs fulfil that need,” he said.

“The three breaches will result in the offenders welcoming in 2006 from Perth Prison and I’m sure most would agree that’s not where you want to spend the festive season.”

Mr Bowles said Dundee was no different to any other area in Scotland where “retail crime exists as a massive problem.”

He said, “A recent survey estimated that the total cost of retail crime to society is £3.442 billion every year.

“That’s the equivalent of £115 for every UK taxpayer.”

Mr Bowles said DUNCAN and its partnership agencies were dealing with other instances of retail crime, which include fraud and internal staff theft, but persistent shoplifting is one of the primary goals.

He insisted that besides being tough on crime, the ASBOs offer DUNCAN and their partnership agencies an alternative approach to its causes.

“We don’t want people getting trapped in the system where their only option is to continue offending,” he said.

“We want to keep people out of the criminal system whenever possible and work towards rehabilitation.”

“From every case I have encountered in Dundee I would estimate that 80% of shoplifting cases arise because people are trying to feed a drug addiction.

“In many cases these are long-term addictions which you cannot just stop on the spot without any support.

“Ask any smoker how hard it is to quit and you don’t even scratch the surface of quitting a serious drug dependency.”

Mr Bowles said retail ASBOs ensured contact is made with persistent offenders and more options are available.

“The retail ASBOs mark clear boundaries for the shoplifters not to cross and enable our partnership to work with social services to identify the familiar faces and their problems,” he added.

“It’s a long-term job but the progress we have made this year suggests we are doing the right things and hopefully we will continue to do so in the new year.”