A prolific shoplifter has been slapped with a banning order barring her from certain town centre shops and every Co-op in Kent following action taken by local traders.

Leisha Hodges, of Hardy Avenue, Dartford was charged with stealing food from a supermarket in Priory Market Place.

The 32-year-old had already been hit with a community protection notice which banned her from attending the store.

Both of the offences took place on February 5 and she was charged on March 11.

She appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court the next day where she admitted the offences and was ordered to complete a community order and pay for the costs of the items stolen.

At the hearing magistrates also issued a criminal behaviour order (CBO).

It bans Hodges from entering various stores in Dartford town centre, plus any Co-Op store in Kent.

The CBO also requires the individual to seek help for alcohol and drug addiction, and has a power of arrest attached, meaning any breach will be dealt with by the court.

It follows a successful application by the Dartford Town Against Crime Scheme (DTAC) on behalf of its trade members.

The initiative has become one of the first of its kind in the country to assist the council in successfully obtaining a CBO against a repeat shoplifter.

It aims to tackle town centre crime by encouraging partnership work between local traders, police and Dartford council.

A database is used to target recurring offenders, hold details of sightings, incidents and complement existing police operations.

Members are also provided extra assistance through a a radio network, CCTV support, and regular advice and guidance.

Where offenders are arrested in any of the member’s premises, they will be served with an exclusion notice banning them entering theirs or any other member's store for a year.

However, in the case of the most persistent shoplifters and criminals the DTAC now has a new tool at its disposal through application for a CBO.

Despite its newfound powers, the council has insisted such orders are to be used as a "last resort".

Caroline Green, a spokesman for Dartford council said: "Issuing a CBO is a last resort for DTAC and the council, and represents the end of a staged process that seeks to both set boundaries and address the behaviours that are negatively impacting on the local community.

"The CBO process is not an easy path to follow and reflects the recent increased investment Kent Police has been able to make in town centre policing, the continued funding by Dartford council to ensure the DTAC scheme remains viable, and the work the DTAC coordinator and individual police officers have put in to explaining the process to DTAC members.

"Most of all, it reflects the support the DTAC members have given the council and police by continuing to provide evidence and intelligence that has subsequently been used to make the case for the CBO.

'This is a great result for Dartford’s businesses and demonstrates that we will target those criminals that target us...'

Council officer and DTAC intelligence manager, Karen Radford said: “This is a great result for Dartford’s businesses and demonstrates that we will target those criminals that target us.

"It’s a very difficult time right now for our shops working to re-open following the lockdown, but we’re here to help them as much as possible and make Dartford a safe place to visit and shop."

The former Kent Police officer who stepped down from her role in 2019, added: "I would encourage all businesses to join DTAC so that we can work together to prevent crime.”

DTAC is a not-for-profit scheme which currently has 63 members, and prices range from £200 to £460 depending on the size of the business.

Any business wanting further information on the scheme can email Karen Radford to find out more at intel.manager@dartford.gov.uk

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

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