SHOP thieves could find themselves hit extra hard in the pocket after police and retail chiefs launched a major campaign against them.

County Durham has been chosen to take part in a scheme which could see offenders face civil action as well as criminal prosecution.

Durham Constabulary, Durham Agency Against Crime and the North-East Retail Crime Partnership are leading the drive to tackle thieves who cost the local economy hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

The project was unveiled by police and members of the partnership in the Cornmill Centre, Darlington, yesterday.

Under the two-year trial scheme, stores will be able to ask police for the names and addresses of anyone arrested for shoplifting.

They will then be able to begin "retail civil recovery" action through the courts to claw back some of the costs they incur in maintaining security at their stores.

Partnership chairman, Elaine Carey, said: "The real beauty of retail civil recovery is that it increases the costs of shop theft to the criminal.

"Instead of passing the costs on to the consumer through an increase in the cost of goods, they are paying for their own crime."

The organisation's chief executive, Anne Tate, added: "It's not about the value of the goods stolen, but a reflection of the costs that stores incur in order to prevent shop theft."

The civil penalty system is said to have a proven track record after being successfully adopted by Northumbria Police last year.

One department store reported that none of the 59 people arrested over 12 months went on to re-offend there.

Durham Police's Chief Constable, Paul Garvin, said: "This pilot scheme is the first time we've allowed the release of details of shop thieves for the purposes of retail civil recovery.

"We know it will have a positive effect, reducing the levels of theft from shops and preventing repeat offending."