Number of reported shoplifting crimes in Britain ‘just a drop in ocean’ as North East takes top spot for most in the country
The number of reported shoplifting crimes in Britain are “just a drop in the ocean”, a new police inquiry has warned.
The North East has emerged as Britain’s shoplifting hotspot, with theft rates soaring 35 per cent above the national average, according to fresh police data.
The region recorded 11.5 shoplifting incidents per 1,000 people, with Cleveland Police experiencing the highest rate nationwide at 14 reports per 1,000 residents.
This stands in stark contrast to Wales’ Dyfed-Powys Police area, which reported the lowest rate at just three incidents per 1,000 people.
The scale of the crisis varies dramatically across the country, with police-recorded incidents representing just “a drop in the ocean” compared to actual offences, according to a new inquiry.
The Metropolitan Police alone recorded more than £15million in stolen goods and money last year.
Regional variations show the East of England has England’s lowest shoplifting rates at six incidents per 1,000 people, whilst Northern Ireland records the lowest overall at 4.6 per 1,000.
London ranks seventh nationally, with 6.5 crimes per 1,000 people – 14 per cent below the national average.
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The North West, despite including major cities Manchester and Liverpool, only ranked ninth with 9.2 crimes per 1,000 people.
Shoplifting across England and Wales surged by 26 per cent last year, reaching 7.1 crimes per 1,000 people.
However, business owners warn many incidents go unreported to police, suggesting these figures significantly understate the true scale of the problem.
July emerged as the peak month for shoplifting offences, according to the research.
A House of Lords inquiry has concluded that shoplifting is “not being tackled properly” and is “seriously unreported” across the country.
In a letter to the Policing Minister, committee chairman Lord Foster of Bath argued the term shoplifting trivialises what has become a serious, organised crime.
“The scale of the shop theft problem within England and Wales is totally unacceptable and action is vital and urgent,” the letter stated.
Police recorded 443,399 incidents in the year to March 2024, marking a 30 per cent increase from the previous year.
The committee welcomed plans to make assaults on retail workers a separate offence and recommended improved reporting systems, increased funding for rehabilitation initiatives, and tighter regulations on anonymous online selling.
Incidents of violence and abuse in shopping centres had risen by 65 per cent from 2021-22 to 2022-23, according to a report by British Retail Consortium (BRC).
A recent survey from the trade association also showed that incidents of violence and abuse against staff had risen by 50 per cent.
Similarly, a 2024 BRC report found only 8 per cent (38,000) of incidents of violence and abuse reported to the police by retailers were prosecuted with 19,000 resulting in convictions.