670 shoplifting offences go unsolved a day as shop staff face a “Christmas crime wave”

EMBARGO: 00.01 Monday 23rd December 2024

The Liberal Democrats have warned that shop staff are facing a “Christmas crime wave” as new figures show a record 670 shoplifting offences a day went unsolved in the past year.

The analysis from the House of Commons Library shows that in the year to March 2024, 245,500 shoplifting offence cases were closed without a suspect being identified, equivalent to an average of 672 a day. This is a staggering 38% rise from the 178,432 shoplifting offences that went unsolved in the same period five years ago.

Overall, more than half (56.4%) of shoplifting offences were closed due to no suspect having been identified, up from 48.9% five years ago.

The Liberal Democrats warned that shop staff on the frontline were having to deal with thieves acting with impunity, because they know the police are unlikely to properly investigate.

Only around one in six (17.2%) of cases led to a suspect being charged or summonsed, down from one in five (21.2%) five years ago.

There have also been worrying reports of shopkeepers having to carry out citizen’s arrests to cope with a rise in shoplifting offences. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to ensure a proper return to community policing where officers have the time and resources they need to focus on keeping their local neighbourhoods safe, including shop workers.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:

“Shop staff are having to deal with a Christmas crime wave as shoplifters act with impunity with so many crimes being effectively legalised by the previous Conservative government’s shocking neglect.

“The new government needs to get a grip on this shoplifting epidemic and hard-working shop staff on the frontline need to be reassured that they will not continue to be abandoned.

“That must start with Ministers making sure that officers will actually have the time and resources to focus on their local neighbourhoods and keep shop workers safe. Until that happens our communities won’t see the proper neighbourhood policing that they deserve.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The House of Commons Library analysis is available here.

Reports of citizens' arrests can be found here.