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Fashion United
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Retail crime in England and Wales hits 20-year high
Shoplifting in England and Wales has surged to its highest level in over two decades, according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the year to March 2025, police recorded over 530,000 shoplifting offences, a 20 percent increase on the previous year and the highest number since current recording methods began in 2003. The rise in shoplifting forms part of a broader uptick in personal theft. Theft-from-person offences also rose by 15 percent, reaching just over 151,000 cases. In contrast, burglary and vehicle theft saw declines of 8 percent, suggesting that theft-related crime is becoming more concentrated in retail and public environments. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) estimates that retail theft now costs the sector over 2.2 billion pounds annually. Beyond the financial impact, the increase has contributed to a surge in violence and abuse toward retail workers and delivery staff, with more than 2,000 incidents reported daily, reported Retail Sector. The rise in organised retail crime, including coordinated thefts by gangs, has further intensified the challenge for retailers. Tom Ironside, director of business and regulation at the BRC, welcomed steps taken by the UK government through its proposed Crime and Policing Bill, which aims to remove the 200 pounds threshold for prosecuting thefts, signalling a tougher stance on offences previously deemed "low-level." He urged policymakers to go further in extending legal protections to all frontline retail workers, echoing legislative measures already in place in Scotland, reported Retail Sector. While the Crime Survey for England and Wales, a broader measure of criminal trends, estimated 2.8 million theft incidents in the year, this represents little change from the previous year. However, the sharp rise in reported shoplifting suggests an intensifying pressure on high street retailers, particularly in the wake of the pandemic and amid ongoing economic headwinds.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Shoplifting hits record high in England and Wales
Retailers say theft is "spiralling out of control" after official figures show shoplifting in England and Wales is at its highest level since current records began more than two decades were 530,643 reported shoplifting offences in the year to March, a 20% increase from the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The ONS said there had been "sharp rises" in shop theft since the groups said they were concerned by the increase in organised crime, saying gangs were "hitting store after store". The figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year up to March 2025 showed shoplifting offences were at the highest level since current police recording practices began in the year to March 2003."The ONS figures prove what retailers have long been telling us – that retail theft is spiralling out of control," said British Retailers Association director Tom said such theft was "not a victimless crime", adding that it triggered violence and abuse towards staff and cost retailers and customers £2.2bn a year."The rise in organised crime is a significant concern, with gangs hitting store after store, even within a single day," he said. Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) chief executive James Lowman said the official statistics were only part of the story. Separate figures from the ACS crime report found convenience stores recorded more than 6.2 million incidents of shoplifting in the past year, he said."Retailers tell us that they won't report crime if they have no faith in it being investigated," he Lowman said the figures showed that retail crime needs to be taken seriously "throughout the justice system"."Only then will we be able to start bringing the numbers down and stop widespread reoffending by criminals that are acting with confidence that they will not be apprehended," he this year the government unveiled the Crime and Policing Bill which the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said would address an "epidemic of street theft", including the bill the current £200 threshold for shoplifting, which means thefts under that value are treated as summary-only offences and not prioritised by Ironside said removing that threshold would "send a clear signal that all shoplifting is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."Responding to the new ONS figures, Ms Cooper said the government was working to rebuild local said more than 500 town centres would be getting extra patrols and there would be 3,000 more neighbourhood officers and police community support officers by next spring.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK retailers cautious as Spending Review outlines key reforms
The Chancellor's Spending Review on 11 June 2025 set out a sweeping multi-year plan that aims to boost public services, infrastructure and policing. Among its headline measures were a £2bn boost to policing, 13,000 extra neighbourhood officers, strengthened transport investment, upskilling initiatives and proposals for business rates reform. In the retail sector, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) welcomed aspects of the package while underlining lingering concerns over crime, transport and future tax burdens. Retailers have faced mounting pressure from shoplifting and abuse, costing the industry and consumers more than £4bn annually. Tom Ironside, Director of Business & Regulation at the BRC, described the policing announcement as "welcome", noting the government's pledge of extra officers and funding. 'With the huge rise in retail theft and the continued impact of violence and abuse on retail colleagues, we welcome the announcement of an extra £2bn for policing,' Ironside said, adding that targeting 'both violence and abuse in retail, with over 2,000 incidents every day, and shoplifting' must be a priority. Official figures show retail crime levels remain stubbornly high across the UK, reinforcing the BRC's call for concentrated efforts on high streets under pressure. Successful town centres depend on reliable transport links. The Spending Review allocates billions to rail, bus and local transport schemes outside London. The BRC voiced support for this investment, highlighting it as vital to 'successful town and city centres'. Ironside added: 'Successful town and city centres are underpinned by an effective transport system which is why we support the funding aimed at improving transport in many parts of the country.' With commerce increasingly local, improvements to connectivity can help drive footfall back to bricks-and-mortar stores. On workforce development, the retail industry too stands to benefit. Ironside welcomed increased investment in skills: 'The retail industry will welcome the increased funding for skills and training, and look forward to seeing more detail on the planned Skills & Growth Levy.' Retail remains the UK's largest private‑sector employer, but spiralling costs continue to strain margins. The BRC previously warned that retailers pay disproportionately high business rates—5 % of GDP while covering more than 20 % of the total rates bill. In her review, the Chancellor confirmed the government will pursue reform: 'We support plans to bring down the disproportionate rates bill paid by the industry, but it is vital that these new reforms result in no shop paying more.' Ironside cautioned that the autumn Budget will offer the real test of these commitments—and retailers are looking for assurances that no store will face higher bills once reforms take effect. Bond markets responded cautiously to the Spending Review, with UK gilt yields modestly higher ahead of the announcement before settling. Analysts noted that departmental budgets will grow by 2.3 % annually in real terms, though sizable borrowing and efficiency savings are required. Greater clarity on the financing of these measures, particularly the Skills & Growth Levy and business rates overhaul, is expected in the autumn Budget. Retailers will be watching closely for confirmation that new funding will not come at the expense of higher costs or tax burdens. In short, the retail industry has broadly welcomed the Spending Review's focus on policing, transport and skills. However, concerns persist over crime levels, the pace of business rates reform and potential fiscal pressures ahead. As the government moves toward its autumn Budget, retailers will gauge whether the commitments translate into tangible relief on high streets across the UK. "UK retailers cautious as Spending Review outlines key reforms" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Tesco becomes latest UK supermarket to make major change at self-service checkouts in bid to crackdown on shoplifting
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TESCO has become the latest retailer to launch VAR-style replays at self-checkouts – after their rivals successfully used them to stop brazen thefts. A camera above scan-and-go tills records packing actions and uses AI to detect when an item may not have been scanned properly. 2 Tesco has made a major change at self-service checkouts in bid to crack down on shoplifting Credit: Instagram 2 The move is thought to have already cut some self-checkout thefts Credit: Alamy It then shows shoppers an instant replay of themselves failing to scan the products. The move is thought to have already cut some self-checkout thefts at Sainsbury's, where the footy ref aid-inspired cameras were quietly introduced last month. Supermarket bosses believe thieves who can see their illegal actions have been caught red-handed are far more likely to pay for them instead. It is unclear when the kit was added to Tesco tills, but any would-be robbers attempting to take from the stores now see the message: 'The last item wasn't scanned properly. 'Remove from bagging area and try again." If the measure is successful, lock-boxes and security stickers, which are typically reserved for high-value items, could finally be removed from everyday goods like teabags, chocolate and tins of Spam. A retail source said: The early indications are that this is working and it is an effective measure. 'This is different to a live camera because many shoplifters assume nobody is watching. 'If your attempted theft has been clipped up and replayed to you seconds later, you know you might only have two options. 'One is to pay, and the other is to get caught. Watch as defiant Tesco shoppers wait in MASSIVE queue rather than use self-service checkouts 'A great deal of shoplifters simply will keep going, whatever the stores do. 'But it will deter some, and much like Tesco's slogan, every little helps.' In February, Tesco unveiled a specialist security centre at its warehouse in Daventry, Northants, which monitors the unbelievable shoplifting crime wave 24 hours a day. The multi-million pound centre is the beating heart of the retailer's shrink transformation team, who are responsible for hunting Britain's marauding criminals. Security boss Emma Sparrock said: 'Our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our colleagues and customers has never been stronger. 'This move is a symbol of our team's growth, and we're ready to face what lies ahead with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.' A record 516,971 shoplifting incidents were logged by police in 2024 — up from 429,873 in 2023. Yet only a fifth resulted in a charge, while more than half of the investigations ended with no suspect identified. Tom Ironside, of the British Retail Consortium, said shoplifting was costing £2billion a year with rising violence and abuse against staff. A Tesco spokeswoman said: 'We are always looking at technology to make life easier for our customers. "We have recently installed a new system at some stores which helps customers using self-service checkouts identify if an item has not been scanned properly, making the checkout process quicker and easier.' It comes after a huge supermarket chain revealed major changes across its nearly 2,400 stores - but it will leave shoppers divided. And Morrisons announced a change coming to all of its UK stores, with new "premium" offers for shoppers.
Scottish Sun
24-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Fury as shoplifting soars to record high with thieves ‘becoming bolder and more aggressive'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPLIFTING offences have gone past half a million in a year for the first time. A record 516,971 incidents were logged by police — up from 429,873 in 2023. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Shoplifting offences have gone past half a million in a year for the first time Credit: Getty Yet only a fifth resulted in a charge while more than half of investigations ended with no suspect identified. The figures from the Office for National Statistics came after a Sun investigation exposed the scale of shoplifting from Greggs. We witnessed countless cases of thieves swiping baked and sweet treats from branches across the country — with staff powerless to intervene. Tom Ironside, of the British Retail Consortium, said shoplifting was costing £2billion a year with rising violence and abuse against staff. READ MORE ON SHOPLIFTING PLODDY RIDICULOUS Cops arrest mum for confiscating kids' iPads amid shoplifting epidemic He added: 'While the ONS statistics show shoplifting at record levels, the figures severely underestimate the problem. 'They are equivalent to less than two incidents per shop per year. Shopkeepers will tell you they're lucky if a day goes by without a shoplifting incident.' Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 'This Labour Government will not tolerate the criminality blighting our communities. That's why we're putting almost 3,000 more bobbies on the beat this year.' But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Law and order is taking a back seat under Labour.' Meanwhile, 152,416 offences of theft from the person were recorded last year, up more than a fifth from 2023. So far, at least 16,000 offenders have been let out of jail early as part of Labour's plan to free up space behind bars.
