Shoplifting surges by 133% in just five years as less than one-in-five charged

Just 19.83 per cent of recorded offences in 2024-25 resulted in suspects being charged, with significant disparities emerging between the 43 police forces operating across England and Wales.

The findings have prompted renewed calls for action from retailers and politicians alike, who have warned that the crisis is placing strain on businesses already grappling with mounting economic pressures.

London's Metropolitan Police recorded the worst performance of any force, with fewer than seven per cent of shoplifting cases resulting in charges during 2024-25.

This represents a decline from 8.64 per cent five years earlier, when the capital's force dealt with 31,008 reported thefts. That figure has since trebled to 93,626 offences.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Durham Constabulary achieved a charge rate of 32.7 per cent, more than quadruple the Met's figure.

Humberside followed closely behind at 31.9 per cent, with Norfolk recording 30.6 per cent, Cumbria at 30.44 per cent, and West Mercia rounding out the top five at 30.21 per cent.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson expressed alarm at the deteriorating situation, telling GB News: "We're really concerned about this because there does seem to have been a surge."

He pointed to footage from south London in recent weeks, stating: "We've seen some of the videos of the disorder in Clapham, I think, over the last few weeks, and it's been very disturbing because obviously our retail and workers and our shopkeepers are not the highest paid people in the world."

Mr Wilkinson argued the crisis demonstrated the necessity of restoring neighbourhood policing, calling for "police desks in every community, in community buildings, places like supermarkets and pubs too."

He added: "Bobbies on the beat, certainly we need to see a return to. And that does mean that we're going to have people feeling more safe."

Marks & Spencer has launched a scathing attack on both ministers and law enforcement over their failure to address the shoplifting epidemic.

The high street giant accused thieves of becoming "more brazen, more organised and more aggressive" in their attacks on its stores.

Senior figures at the retailer have written directly to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, demanding urgent action to combat the problem.

Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has described shoplifting as "not a victimless crime," warning that threats and abuse directed at shop workers are "simply unacceptable.".

The Liberal Democrats have warned that smaller retailers are particularly vulnerable, facing a perfect storm of rising energy costs, business rates, and additional expenses stemming from the Chancellor's National Insurance contribution increase.

The party has proposed a 5p VAT reduction for hospitality businesses alongside fundamental reform of the business rates system to revitalise struggling high streets.

However, the Metropolitan Police has insisted it is making progress, with its head of business crime claiming detection rates have nearly doubled, arrests of shop thieves have risen by 44 per cent, and offences in London have fallen by 3.2 per cent over the past twelve months.

According to Facewatch, UK retailers lost a record £2.2billion to shoplifting between 2023 and 2024, with businesses now spending approximately £1.8billion annually on crime prevention measures.