Shoplifting surges to a 20-year high: Report

SHOPLIFTING offences in England and Wales increased 30 per cent in the year ending March 2024 to the highest level in 20 years, official data showed on Wednesday.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said there were 443,995 shoplifting offences recorded by the police over the year, up from 342,428 in the year to March 2023.

The figures continue the trend of persistent increases since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Retailers say the true picture is much worse as thousands of shoplifting incidents, often in smaller stores, are not reported to the police because owners do not think the force will either respond or prosecute offenders.

The issue of shop theft and violence against store workers has been raised by many of Britain's biggest retailers over the last year including Tesco, John Lewis and Primark, echoing similar reports in the United States and elsewhere.

Lobby group the British Retail Consortium says the industry is losing almost £1 billion pounds a year from theft.

Retail workers trade union Usdaw said it was "deeply concerned" by the latest figures.

"This 30 per cent increase in shoplifting is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning," Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis said.

New law

The new Labour government has pledged to introduce a standalone offence for assaulting a shop worker.

It is likely to carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail though no final decision has been taken.

The new law will require police to investigate even if the stolen goods are worth under £200.

A Crime Bill will reverse a so-called “shoplifters’ charter” introduced in 2014, under which theft of goods under £200 is considered “low value”.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper blamed the previous Tory government for the malaise, The Telegraph reports. "They deserted our town centres and high streets, leaving local people to face soaring levels of street crime.

“Shoplifting has shot up to 20-year highs, hitting our local businesses and hurting communities in our towns and cities, yet the number of neighbourhood police on our streets has plummeted, with devastating consequences for public confidence," she said.

Knife crimes

Knife crime offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales in 2023-24 stood at 50,510, up 4 per cent from 48,409 in 2022-23, but below the pre-pandemic level of 51,982 offences in 2019-20.

There was a “notable increase” in the number of robberies involving a knife or sharp instrument, with 21,226 recorded by forces in 2023-24, up 13 per cent from 18,787 in the previous 12 months, though this is below the 22,727 in 2019-20.

Offences involving possession of an article with a blade or point fell slightly to 27,470, down 3 per cent from 28,391 in the previous 12 months. (Agencies)