Police shoplifting pledge welcomed by retailers

by Alice Brooker alice.brooker@newtrade.co.uk

Independent retailers have welcomed a police pledge to investigate every shoplifting incident and a separate plan to put more shoplifters behind bars.

Police commissioners have committed to investigating all shoplifting occurrences as long as there is a ‘lead’, such as goodquality CCTV footage. The news followed concern over the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing a 24% jump in shoplifting reports in England and Wales in the past year.

A separate push is underway from ministers to build more prison space to use to lock up prolific shoplifters, with transport minister Richard Holden stating: “If people are persistently breaking the law, then they should go to jail, and if we need to build more prison places for them, then so be it.”

Research from the ACS suggests 63% of shoplift-

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ing incidents in convenience stores are by repeat offenders.

Fed national president Muntazir Dipoti responded: “Sadly, many incidents of shoplifting are becoming increasingly violent.

“After so many years of police forces appearing to turn a blind eye to shoplifting offences, the Fed is pleased to hear that these crimes will be investigated, provided there is evidence available to help lead to a conviction.”

Dipoti added the Fed will be writing to chief constables and police and crime commissioners to “ensure that officers do act” when shop theft is reported.

Fed member Hitesh Pandya, owner of Toni’s Newsagents in Kent, said: “More resources doesn’t mean better. It means diddly squat. There are opportunist shoplifters, and if nothing is done about it, they’ll do it on a regular basis. Some people are desperate, but some do it just because they can.”

In Pandya’s county, shoplifting was reported to increase by 3% for the year ending March 2023, according to ONS figures, one of the lowest increases of any part of the England and Wales.

“[Retailers] have got to do their due diligence and make sure their stuff is protected,” Pandya continued. “A lot of retailers don’t provide evidence, which is not acceptable. If you feel the police aren’t doing enough, you have to pursue them. Not because they’re lazy, but because they’re incompetent. If crime isn’t reported, we lose, the police lose – society loses.

“Some stuff we’re allowing to happen. We can’t expect the police or retailers to do everything. Both sides need to be a lot more interactive, then you should not have any problems with persecution.”

Dipoti also expressed a concern for retailers failing to report crime due to “lack of police action”, and that the current scale of crime could be worse as a result.