Launch of Operation Wonderland in King's Lynn

Police in King’s Lynn launch the annual festive shoplifting operation in the town centre this weekend.

Operation Wonderland means more dedicated patrols around the shopping areas of the town in a bid to deter criminals and have officers close at hand if incidents do happen.

West Norfolk Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Ben Jarvis: “This time of year is when we can see a spike in people attempting to steal from shops. Often they’re looking to make a bit of extra cash for Christmas. However, we know that this can have a massive impact on the shops and businesses in the town which then have to consider passing those losses on to everyone else.

“This operation has run successfully over the past few years and always has a real impact on reducing shoplifting and bringing offenders to justice. It’s just one example of our commitment in tackling shoplifting and we will continue to work with our partners to hold such criminals to account.

Tackling shoplifting is a year-round job for police in King’s Lynn. They work closely with local shops and the Discover King’s Lynn Street Rangers to try to deter thieves from stealing in the first place. When incidents do happen, officers work hard to recover stolen goods and deal with offenders.

Vicky Etheridge, BID Manager at Discover King’s Lynn said: “This operation makes a really big difference to the shops in the town. Christmas is a really important time of year for many of the businesses here and it’s great to see something that helps to keep King’s Lynn a safe and enjoyable place to visit.”

Operation Wonderland begins with the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights on Sunday 26 November 2023, and will run until the end of December. Dedicated officers will be on duty each day covering both King’s Lynn town centre and Hardwick Retail Park. It will include officers from the local policing team, newly qualified officers from the Community Support Unit, Special Constables and response officers.

Insp Jarvis continued: “We know that local people want to see a visible police presence in their communities and operations like this are important to support that. Seeing uniformed police officers walking through town not only deters criminals but reassures shoppers and residents that we are a key part of the community and are there to help if needed.