Shoplifting epidemic leads to two thefts a minute

Stores across the UK are experiencing a surge in shoplifting, with two thefts reported every minute, according to official data.

The Office for National Statistics reports that thefts reached an all-time high in the year ending June, with 469,788 incidents recorded by police - up nearly 29% from the previous year's total of 365,173 and twice the rate seen during the pandemic in 2020. This averages to over 9,000 incidents weekly, or 1,290 daily, based on standard UK store opening hours of around 10 hours per day.

These are the highest figures recorded since March 2003, with retailers warning that the increase adds an estimated six pence to each customer transaction. The British Retail Consortium estimates £1.8 billion in goods are stolen annually, with an additional £700 million spent on enhanced security.

However, these police-reported figures likely capture only a portion of theft incidents, as many stores only report theft when an offender is apprehended, or there is CCTV evidence. Just 17.7% of thefts resulted in a shoplifter being charged, a slight increase from 15.5% the previous year but still down from 29.8% in 2016, when this data was first published by the Home Office.

Labour has proposed a Crime Bill to address this issue, which would require police to investigate theft cases, even if the stolen goods are worth under £200. This measure would reverse a 2014 "shoplifters' charter" that treats theft under £200 as "low value." Additionally, the Bill proposes a new offense for assaulting a shop worker, which would carry a maximum jail sentence of six months.

Under a Government-police agreement from October, officers are required to attend shoplifting cases involving violence against store staff, the detention of a suspect, or the need to secure evidence. However, police say it is "unrealistic" to respond to every report of shoplifting.

This rise in shoplifting contributed to a 3% increase in overall police-recorded thefts, reaching 1.8 million incidents. Notably, there was also a 20% increase in "theft from the person" offences, which include pickpocketing and opportunistic theft of bags or equipment.

In contrast, burglaries decreased by 3% to 264,963 following a police commitment to attend every home burglary.

The Johnson Partnership

Derby Crime Solicitors