Scott Merritt

Scott Merritt is a Senior Sergeant with the New Zealand Police, known for his leadership of the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit, which was established in 2023 to address the rising issue of retail crime in the Western Bay of Plenty. Under his oversight, the unit has made significant progress in combating shoplifting by focusing on recidivist offenders, resulting in over 200 arrests and 1200 charges within its first six months. Merritt's strategic approach and emphasis on building rapport with local retailers have been praised as effective measures in protecting the retail community from theft and promoting accountability among offenders.