The latest crime survey for England and Wales, published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), has shown that in the 12 months to June 2024, there were 469,788 recorded shoplifting offences - compared to 365,173 the previous year. This is an increase of 29% and the highest ever recorded by the ONS since recording practices began in 2003.
Data from the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) annual Voice of Local Shops Survey, which tracks levels of theft in the convenience sector, have shown theft increasing every quarter since mid-2021, reaching new record highs toward the end of 2023 and then breaking that record in the first half of this year. The ACS’ report estimates that convenience retailers have recorded over 5.6m incidents of theft over the last year.
ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “We’re hearing the right messages from Government about reporting and investigating crime, and applying effective penalties. Sadly this is entirely at odds with our members’ experiences of policing in communities up and down the country. Local shop owners and their colleagues are becoming sick of assurances from politicians, they want a response when they are put at risk and for criminals to be apprehended and sanctioned effectively.
“These figures should prompt a redoubling of efforts from everyone involved in tackling shop theft: retailers reporting crime every time, the police investigating every offence and identifying prolific repeat offenders, and the courts system applying effective penalties that aim to break the cycle of re-offending.”
The full report can be read here.
No comments yet