Shoplifting epidemic sees record number of thefts as ministers 'sit on hands'

25 January 2024 , 16:32

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Shoplifting cases have reached record levels after soaring by 32% in a year (Image: Getty Images)

Shoplifting has reached record levels after soaring by more than a third in a year.

For the first time since records started there were more than 400,000 cases reported to police in England and Wales, bombshell figures show. Retail chiefs say this is "no surprise" as they demanded the Government tackles the epidemic.

In the year to September there were 402,482 cases, up by nearly 100,000. The Mirror is campaigning for tougher action to protect shop workers and increase police patrols on high streets.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed theft cases rose by 9% to 1.8million, largely the result of a 32% jump in shoplifting. Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) said: "These figures will surprise nobody who work in retail or who owns a retail business, and alongside the increase in actual theft, we have seen significant increase also in the abuse of retail staff."

He said he was glad the Government finally pledged to act after months of lobbying, but said: "As always actions will speak louder than words and we hope that the new focus of the relevant authority is not too little too late as this crime epidemic remains a serious problem for many hard-working retailers."

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And Graham Wynn, of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The rise in shoplifting is alarming, especially as retailers are reporting that the nature of many thefts are becoming bolder, and more aggressive. Theft costs retailers, and ultimately customers, almost £1 billion a year, money that would be better used to reduce prices for everyone. More importantly, it is a major trigger for the abuse and assault of retail workers, of which there are over 850 incidents a day."

Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael accused the Government of "sitting on its hands", adding: "If the Conservatives were serious about stopping shoplifting, they would give up the gimmicks and commit to restoring proper community policing.”

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the 32% rise in shoplifting cases showed criminals are allowed to "run rife" in town centres. She said: "Enough is enough. Britain cannot afford more of this damaging decline from the Conservatives."

Following the release of the figures, Downing Street said ministers are looking at how to tackle shoplifting. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We'd always want to do more to combat shoplifting. I think there is work that has been done, particularly with private companies, about how we can go further to tackle this issue."

Dave Burke