Shoplifting offences soar to highest level in 20 years

Latest figures for the year ending December 2023 show there were 430,104 shoplifting offences recorded by forces, up by more than a third (37 per cent) on the 315,040 offences in the previous 12 months.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said this is the highest figure since current police recording practices began for the year ending March 2003.

Superintendent Andy Sidebotham, College of Policing lead for local policing, said: “Retail Crime is never victimless and can be accompanied by assaults and threats of violence. This increase in shoplifting is worrying and we know there is a lot of work to do to cut the number of these offences.

“The College of Policing’s Retail Crime Action Plan was published late last year. We have provided officers with easy to access and use guidance, so we can prevent and effectively tackle shoplifting, and make sure victims receive the best support and offenders are brought to justice.

“We know shoplifting is a major public concern, and that’s why we’re boosting our guidance, providing additional support and being clear on the standards expected. There is more to do, and we will continue to focus attention on this crime.”

The ONS data published on Thursday (April 25), also shows recorded theft from the person increased, up by 18 per cent to 125,563 offences compared with 106,606 offences in the year ending December 2022 – the highest level since 2004 (137,154 offences).

Police recorded robbery offences increased by 13 per cent to 81,094 offences compared with 71,983 offences in the previous year, although the ONS noted is 26 per cent lower than the year ending March 2003 (110,271 offences), when current recording practices began

Offences involving knives or sharp instruments (excluding data from Greater Manchester Police and Devon and Cornwall Police) increased by seven per cent (49,489 offences) compared with the previous year (46,153 offences), but remain three per cent lower than the 51,206 offences recorded in 2020.

Firearms offences (excluding Devon and Cornwall Police) were also up by nine per cent to 6,367 offences compared with 5,850 offences in the year ending December 2022. The ONS attributes this rise to a 27 per cent increase in imitation weapons.

However, the ONS notes that the increase in offences involving firearms follows a downward trend seen in previous years, and remains 43 per cent less than it was at its peak in the year ending March 2006.

Other data shows the number of homicides fell by six per cent (to 577 offences) compared with 616 the previous year.

The ONS said compared with the year ending December 2022 survey, there was “some variation” for individual crime types.

Fraud decreased by 16 per cent, with reductions in bank and credit account fraud (13 per cent), advance fee fraud (34 per cent) and other fraud (50 per cent).

Computer misuse increased by 29 per cent, driven by a 32 per cent rise in unauthorised access to personal information.

Criminal damage was down by 18 per cent, including a 25 per cent fall in criminal damage to a vehicle.