Increase In Shoplifting Offences

Shoplifting has risen to the highest level on record amid complaints the crime has been effectively ‘decriminalised’, new data revealed today. 

In the year ending in December 2023, police registered 430,104 offences, up over 37% from 315,040 in the year prior.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) states that the number is the highest since current records started in the year before March 2003.

Retail bosses have accused ministers of allowing shoplifting to become effectively decriminalised, with many police forces failing to attend the majority of reports and failing to gather any evidence when they do.

Under 40 per cent of shoplifting reports were attended by the Met between April 2022 and April 2023, recent figures revealed. 

Other data points to a comparable, although frequently worse, scenario across the rest of the nation, with police only responding to one out of every five shoplifting-related complaints.

Out of all the forces, just six answered the Telegraph’s request for freedom of information.

Today Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said the increase in shoplifting was ‘clearly unacceptable’.

He told reporters: ‘We have seen the figures this morning and reiterate the Government is fully focused on keeping our streets safe, cutting crimes and protecting the public and this is why we’ve put more police into our communities, invested heavily in safer streets and we’ve handed out tougher sentences to the worst offenders.

‘I’d point out that in today’s statistics, we see crime is down 20% since 2019. Since 2010, violent crime is down 44% and neighbourhood crime is down 48%.

‘In relation to shoplifting specifically, shoplifting is clearly unacceptable and the Prime Minister has previously talked about it being a blight on our communities, the damage it causes to our businesses, and we’re absolutely clear that we should take a zero-tolerance approach to this crime.

‘Thanks to dedicated police officers patrolling badly-affected areas and attending more crime scenes, and retailers working closely with the police to share information such as CCTV recordings, in the last year charges were up by 46%, but we recognise there’s more to do to protect retail workers and tackle repeat offenders, which is why earlier in the month, the Prime Minister announced a new retail crime action plan.’

The spokesman added that it was the Government’s understanding an increase in shoplifting was being driven by ‘organised criminality’.

Police recorded crime data for England and Wales shows offences involving theft from the person stood at 125,563 in 2023, up nearly a fifth from 106,606 in 2022, and is the highest level since 2004 (137,154).

Robberies were up 13% year over year to 81,094 from 71,983 in 2022; nevertheless, this is still 26% fewer than the total for the year that ended in March 2003 (110,271).

Knife and sharp weapon offences increased to 49,489 in 2023 from 46,153 in 2022, a 7% increase, but a 3% decrease from the pre-pandemic total of 51,206 offences in the year ending in March 2020. Gun crime increased by 9%.

Due to issues with data recording, the offences reported by Devon & Cornwall Police and Greater Manchester Police are not included in this set of numbers.

The prisons are full, the cops have been cut to the bone, and they are busy covering up for themselves. We have the highest tax burden in living memory and nothing to show for it. The cost of living has gone through the roof, our public services and infrastructure are crumbling, and the Tories who preside over it all are living proof that crime pays—no wonder people are shoplifting!