Keir Starmer vows to take on shoplifting menace to make our streets safe
Keir Starmer today will pledge to tackle the scourge of shoplifting as he vows to make Britain’s streets safe again.
The Labour leader will end the scandal that has seen criminals escape proper punishment if goods are worth less than £200. And he will introduce a new law so those who attack shopkeepers face toughen sanctions.
In what is expected to be his final party conference address before an election, Mr Starmer will vow to “give the country its future back”. Ahead of the speech, last night he insisted “Labour is the change this country needs” as he declared he is ready to begin his campaign to get to No10, saying: “Bring it on.”
The Mirror has been demanding urgent action to tackle the epidemic of shoplifting that is sweeping Britain's high streets. Our campaign to Clamp Down on Shoplifting has been calling for the reversal of Tory laws that downgraded the theft of goods worth less than £200 to a minor offence, which has meant that thieves get off with just a fine in the post.
We also want more PCSOs so they can patrol our high streets as the number has fallen from 16,814 in 2009 to 8,263. At the same time, shopkeepers and retail bosses have demanded the police and courts to do more to protect staff and bring prosecutions after almost nine in 10 convenience store staff said thieves had verbally abused them.
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In his speech today, Mr Starmer will pledge to end the effective decriminalisation of thefts worth below £200. The change will ensure that repeat offenders will no longer be able to get away with a fine by post. Laws that see people who attack emergency workers including police officers face tougher punishments will be extended to cover shop staff, so culprits face up to two years in prison.
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Mr Starmer last night said: “I thank the Mirror for their important campaign on the scourge of shoplifting. A Labour government will reverse the Tories’ de-prioritisation of shoplifting under £200 and create a new specific offence of assault against shop workers.”
The Labour leader will also pledge guaranteed town centre patrols through his party’s plan for 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs on the streets. His speech comes almost a week after Rishi Sunak farcically claimed a vote for the Tories would be a vote for change despite the party being in power for 13 years.
Polls give Labour a significant lead over the Tories, putting Mr Starmer on course for Downing Street. The Labour leader will pledge to bring “reassurance and hope” to voters. Shoplifting is estimated to cost retailers almost £1billion a year. The British Retail Consortium has said there were around eight million incidents in the 12 months to March. Police recorded 339,206 cases, with just 48,218 of these incidents resulting in charges.
Workers say some crooks pull items from shelves in front of them and return to steal more, as they believe they can get away with it. At present, shoplifting does not automatically lead to jail time. If the goods are worth less than £200, the maximum sentence is six months in prison but this is usually handled by issuing a postal fine of £70. Stealing items valued at £200 or more can lead to a maximum sentence of seven years.
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