ONS Crime Survey reveals record levels of shop theft

It is the highest figure since current police recording practices began for the year ending March 2003.

The data follows the last release of figures from the Crime Survey for England in Wales in October 2023, which showed a 25% increase in theft on the previous year.

Data from ACS’ Voice of Local Shops Survey which tracks levels of theft in the convenience sector have shown that theft has been increasing every quarter since mid-2021, reaching new record highs toward the end of 2023 and then breaking that record in the first quarter of 2024.

The ACS Crime Report estimates that convenience retailers have recorded over 5.6million incidents of theft over the last year.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “It’s sadly not surprising that official figures on theft have risen significantly, but this still represents a fraction of the true picture of shop theft.

“The vast majority of incidents that take place end up not being reported because of the time taken to report the crime and the lack of follow up from the police.

“Thieves are stealing on a regular basis without fear of apprehension, so it’s essential that every police force in the country takes theft seriously, not least because challenging thieves is one of the biggest triggers for abuse of shopworkers.”

Ahead of the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May, ACS has been calling on all PCCs to outline how their local forces are responding to theft, and to make tackling shop theft a priority in their police and crime plans.

Julian Hayes, criminal defence lawyer and partner at Berris Law, commented: “The release of the recent shoplifting/theft crime figures simply demonstrate that the years of austerity and cuts in policing have meant that the investigation of these so-called minor offences have long since been neglected and ignored.

“The police cannot be blamed for this as they, much like the rest of the criminal justice system are on their knees. The cost to the high street is immeasurable and causing shops and businesses to close or restrict access to customers, not to mention the horrendous risks that members of staff have to take when challenging shoplifters.

The Conservative government cannot be considered the party of law and order. There must now be a root and branch review of all within in the criminal justice system and more money put in to ensure that this and everything else that is wrong with this is rectified and the funding has long since been denied comes without further question or delay.

“I only hope that Labour takes heed.”