DI Lawrence Billi takes us behind the scenes of one of retail policing’s fastest-growing success stories…
As DI on the Opal Serious and Organised Acquisitive Crime (SOAC) intelligence team, Lawrence Billi sits at the heart of one of the most important developments in retail policing in years.
With more than 35 years in policing under his belt, Lawrence goes right back to where it all began, sharing his journey from the Royal Military Police through Avon & Somerset and Wiltshire Police before arriving at Opal.
Of course, Paul couldn’t pass up the opportunity to quiz his guest on the incredible, globally recognised success of the Pegasus Partnership – the engine behind Opal’s organised retail crime team.
A collaboration between the Home Office, policing and major retailers, the intelligence-sharing initiative is transforming the fight against organised retail crime by improving communication, building trust and connecting the dots between incidents that were once treated in isolation.
And what a difference it’s making! With more than 250 arrests, over 118 years of prison sentences, 22 deportations and a remarkable 73% reduction in activity among organised crime groups following engagement with Opal, Lawrence reveals exactly what’s driving those impressive results…
Paul also gets the lowdown on the unit’s new Supply Chain Crime Desk, one of the latest additions to Opal’s rapidly expanding operation. From why it was created to how it works in practice, the discussion explores why supply chain crime has become such a priority.
Plus, don’t miss the fascinating story behind one of the desk’s first successes involving the arrest of four suspected OCG members accused of stealing £120,000 worth of goods… and it was all sparked by a conversation with Tesco at Retail Risk – On The Move!
If you’ve ever wondered what happens to the intelligence retailers share, this episode offers a rare look behind the curtain with one of the people helping to make it happen.
The next Retail Risk – On The Move conference takes place in Manchester on 17th September 2026.