Unsolved shoplifting cases soar to 5-year high of over 200,000 in “crime epidemic”

EMBARGO: 22:30 Tuesday 26th December

Over 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in the past year in a “growing crime epidemic”, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. It means an average of over 560 shoplifting cases going unsolved every single day. 

It is the highest number of unsolved shoplifting cases recorded over the last five year period - and a shocking 32% increase from the previous year. 

The Liberal Democrat analysis is based on the Home Office’s own statistics, showing the number of shoplifting cases across England and Wales that were closed without a suspect being identified. The latest figures show that 205,676 shoplifting cases went unsolved in the year ending July 2023, making almost six in ten (57%) of the total. It brings the overall number of unsolved shoplifting cases since 2019 to a total of 843,406. 

Only around one in seven (15%) of shoplifting cases in the last year resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed, down from 19% in 2019.

The Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservative Government for allowing so many criminals to get away with it and for decimating community policing. Since 2015, the Conservatives have also taken over 4,000 Police Community Support Officers off the streets. And as of last year, just 12% of officers across England and Wales were assigned to frontline neighbourhood policing teams. 

The party has also criticised the Government’s attempts to tackle the growing shoplifting epidemic, blasting them as ineffective. This includes announcing a meagre £30,000 of government funding to crack down on shoplifting, amounting to just 7p per offence.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible and trusted, with the time and resources to focus on tackling local crimes.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:

“As unsolved shoplifting soars across the country, organised criminal gangs are being let off the hook while shopkeepers are left vulnerable. 

“Yet again, this Conservative government is totally failing to tackle a growing crime epidemic. 

“Far too many people no longer feel safe in their own communities and town centres because this government has decimated community policing.

“We already know what works to stop crime - it’s not task forces and gimmicks, it’s putting police back on the beat and ensuring that crimes are properly investigated.

“If the Conservative party was serious about stopping shoplifting, they would give up the gimmicks and invest in frontline policing instead.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors: 

Full data is available here, based on Home Office, Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables.

Data on PCSO cuts can be found here, based on Home Office, Police Workforce: England and Wales, Table H7(various editions). 

Data on neighbourhood policing team size can be found here, based on Home Office, Police workforce England and Wales statistics.