Shop thefts are going beyond individualised offences to ‘relentless, large-scale, organised operations’ partnered with ‘unprecedented levels of violence’, finds government inquiry.
The Justice and Home Affairs Committee conducted an inquiry into shop theft that found it often goes underreported – that is, this type of crime is not being “effectively tackled”, resulting in a detrimental impact on the retail sector and economy.
In a letter to the minister for policing, crime and fire prevention Dame Diana Johnson MP, the committee said it heard there are almost 17 million incidents of shop theft annually, very few lead to an arrest. This cost the retail industry almost £2bn last year.
It continued on to say that shop theft has gone beyond an individual offence, and is now viewed as a “lucrative profit-making opportunity” by organised criminal networks.
The committee said it recognised the need for quicker reporting systems, better data collection and intelligence sharing between police forces across the UK to ensure shop theft is being treated seriously.
It added it welcomes “Pegasus”, which is the new national scheme developed to tackle organised crime across retail.
Change for good
The committee wants to see several things changed, including the phasing out of the term ‘shoplifting’ as it plays down the severity of the offence.
It also supports the creation of a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker, wishes for increased funding to community-based re-offending and rehabilitation initiatives, and supports the introduction of regulations for the use of facial recognition technology by private companies.
Chair of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee Lord Foster of Bath said: “In March 2024, 443,953 incidents of shop theft were recorded by police – a 30% increase on the previous year and the highest ever level since comparable records began over 20 years ago.
“But the figures are a drop in the ocean when compared with likely real figures estimated at 17 million with devastating consequences for businesses and families.
“The scale of the shop theft problem within England and Wales is totally unacceptable, and action like that underway in the Pegasus scheme is vital and urgent.
“There’s no silver bullet. But, if adopted, the recommendations in our report should help tackle the problem and help keep the public and our economy safer.”
No comments yet