WE all pay the price for shoplifting. Retailers place a surcharge on everything they sell to cover theft losses, which ran at £800 million in Britain last year.

York suffers at least as much, if not more, than other shopping centres. It is seen as a soft touch by commuter criminals who travel miles for a day's thieving, like the Middlesbrough woman caught with hundreds of pounds-worth of stolen goods after a spree around two department stores.

A new initiative aims to change that perception. The latest in a series of measures to get tough on York's criminals will see persistent shoplifters banned from most shops for life.

This certainly sends out the right signals. For the scheme to be effective, however, it will rely on teamwork.

First, the courts must be willing to issue the retail exclusion order against the thieves. Then comes the really difficult bit - enforcement.

If shoplifters find they can easily flout the ban, it will lose its power as a deterrent. Good communication is key to making it work.

The police will need to brief traders thoroughly on the names and faces of those on the blacklist, and managers must then circulate these details among shop floor staff. It is clear that in-store detectives will play a key role.

The scheme's launch has been an impressive team effort, with the police, retailers and the Safer York Partnership all involved. If they continue to unite against the thieves, York may yet be able to shut its doors to the shoplifters.

Updated: 10:55 Wednesday, December 03, 2003