Shoplifting Incidents Rise 13% to Over 529,000 in England Wales

Shoplifting offences in England and Wales surged by 13% in the year ending June 2025, reaching a record 529,994 incidents according to the Office for National Statistics. This rise in retail crime is part of a broader increase in theft-related offences, including a 5% increase in theft from the person, while overall theft offences decreased by 4%. The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) highlights that the majority of these crimes go unreported due to retailers' lack of faith in police response, and only a small fraction of reported cases lead to prosecution. Bira calls the situation a retail crime crisis and urges swift government action, including full implementation of the Crime and Policing Bill, more consistent police responses, and greater use of community behavior orders to address repeat offenders. The Labour government's recent legislation to scrap most jail sentences under a year has drawn criticism, with fears it may embolden criminals amid this surge in shoplifting. The government has pledged to add 3,000 additional neighborhood officers by March 2026 to address the problem, but retailers stress the need for visible support to protect businesses and staff.