Explosive growth of collective store bans for shoplifters in the Netherlands
A growing number of retailers in the Netherlands are uniting to combat shoplifting by implementing collective store bans, which are quickly gaining traction across the country. These bans, which have expanded rapidly, were in place in 15 shopping areas at the start of 2024, with 27 now in effect. Additionally, another 24 shopping areas are awaiting approval from the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens).
Martijn Wildeboer, an advisor at the Center for Crime Prevention and Safety (Centrum voor Criminaliteitspreventie en Veiligheid), is credited with developing the collective store ban system. Wildeboer explained that individual store bans were ineffective because offenders would simply target other nearby shops. “A thief would go to a neighboring store and continue to steal, even if they had been banned from multiple individual stores,” he said.
Under the new system, if a person shoplifts at a store like a clothing retailer, they face an individual ban at that particular store but also a collective warning for all other retailers. Should the individual commit theft at another store within the year, a full ban is applied to the entire shopping center.
The system, which has been approved by the Dutch Data Protection Authority, operates with minimal police involvement. Enforcement of the bans is handled by the business owners themselves.
If a banned individual ignores the collective store ban, this is considered trespassing, and police can become involved in two ways: when the theft is initially reported, and again if trespassing is filed. Wildeboer clarified, “Police involvement only occurs at the front end for theft reports, and at the back end for trespassing.”
To track these bans, retailers and some of their staff use a mobile app that lists banned individuals. The app assigns color codes to indicate the severity of the ban. “Each ban has a different color,” said Henk-Jan van der Holst, a security guard in a shopping center in Enschede. “A long-term collective ban is black-green, a collective warning is yellow, and an individual ban is red.”
Van der Holst expressed strong support for the collective ban system, noting that the banned individuals also have descriptions attached to their profiles. “For example, 'do not apprehend, responds aggressively,'" he explained. "It could also note if someone is a repeat offender, so other retailers know to be cautious.”
In addition to the collective store bans, retailers also have the option of imposing a 181-euro damage fee on shoplifters to compensate for the time spent dealing with theft. This fee is managed by SODA, the organization handling damage reimbursements for nearly 80 percent of retail businesses in the Netherlands.
SODA’s director, Niels van Os, reported that many shoplifters are willing to pay the fee, which provides a swift resolution without involving the police. “Police often don’t have the time,” Van Os noted. “With the fee, we resolve the issue quickly.”
The damage fee applies regardless of the item stolen, whether it’s an expensive electronic device or a pack of candy. Van Os explained, “The processing time is about the same for any theft, so we’ve set the minimum damage fee at 181 euros.” He also pointed out that many offenders are less likely to reoffend after paying the fine. “It’s a very effective method,” he said.
SODA expects to handle between 10,000 and 20,000 shoplifting cases without police intervention this year. “We only involve the police in cases involving vulnerable suspects, such as minors, people with dementia, aggressive offenders, or those who steal large amounts,” Van Os added.
Despite the reported effectiveness of the system, some legal experts have expressed concern about private citizens taking on the roles of law enforcement officers and judges. Sven Brinkhoff, a professor of criminal law, warned that while the system is a response to police capacity issues, it presents a significant risk of privacy violations. “There is a risk that innocent people may be included in such systems without proper oversight,” Brinkhoff said. “How long will someone stay in such a system?”
Van der Holst assured that the data for banned shoplifters is deleted after a year. “Everything is erased after a year. If someone feels they’ve been wrongly included, there is an appeal process, and we have a complaints committee,” he said.
However, Brinkhoff expressed skepticism that individuals who have reformed their behavior would be able to escape the stigma of being a shoplifter. “Once a thief, always a thief,” he remarked. “That’s not something someone who has turned their life around would appreciate.”
