POLICE in Sunderland say they are beating shoplifting, and are catching four out of five thieves who prey on city centre stores.

They say much of the success is due to the city's Shopwatch scheme, which relays information about shoplifters to its 130 member stores, and the centre's network of closed-circuit television cameras.

Sergeant Peter Holmes, head of Northumbria Police's retail crime unit in Sunderland, said detection rates for shoplifting stood at 80 per cent - 549 out of 687 reported cases were solved.

Almost 200 stores have joined the scheme and are told at monthly meetings which thieves are operating in the city centre.

Sgt Holmes said: "Under the Data Protection Act we are allowed to show members photographs of suspects as it is for the prevention and detection of crime. Albums are kept of people who we suspect of causing trouble.''

A radio channel in The Bridges shopping centre relays information about shoplifting and other crimes.

Sgt Holmes said this was central to the success of the scheme.