KNOWN shoplifters are being offered a “personal shopper experience” by Wyre Forest police officers as part of a festive operation.

A plain clothes operation is being carried out across the district to combat shoplifting at Wyre Forest retailers during the Christmas period.

A spokesman for Kidderminster Police said many stores had signed up to the scheme and have been given numbers to call the plain clothes teams as soon as potential offenders enter their stores.

He said: “We shall be targeting habitual offenders with the aim to tackle people before they offend - this will entail offering known offenders when encountered a "personal shopper experience".

“Should officers observe offenders entering store we shall be engaging them directly and offer them assistance in their shopping to ensure that nobody forgets to pay on their way out.

“We understand that some people may not want our assistance however they can rest assured we shall be just behind them ready to assist should they change their mind before leaving the store.

“All of this is clearly a little tongue in cheek but with a very serious message, shop lifting will damage our economy, reduces employment and in turn the livelihoods of staff and store owners and will not be tolerated.

“Our aim is to minimise the losses, reduce arrests and reduce the number of offences committed by taking the proactive approach of stopping the offenders in the moments before they offend.”