Public-private partnership in the fight against organized retail crime: the
commerce information network
The Commerce Information Network is a public-private partnership between retailers and police forces
to exchange information about suspicious activities and criminal offences of organized retail crime in
retail businesses. In the last two years 2.000 incidents were reported through the network, of which half
of them led to a specific action of the police, such as the start-up of an investigation or an arrest. Evaluations show that the police can successfully link multiple offences to one or more perpetrators who otherwise often remained unidentified. Nevertheless, the network demands a certain investment of time and resources for the police forces. It is therefore important to create a clear legal framework for the Commerce Information Network in conformity with the (local) security plans and the privacy legislation.