Shoplifting is at its highest level in at least two decades

According to recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shoplifting incidents reported to police have risen to the highest level in at least two decades.

A staggering 430,104 shoplifting incidents were recorded in England and Wales last year, a significant increase of 37% on the previous twelve months. According to the ONS, this figure represents the highest number of shoplifting incidents since recording practices began in the year to March 2003.

The rise in shoplifting comes amid growing concerns among major retailers about the rising costs of theft. In addition, “thefts from the person,” including thefts and pickpocketing, reached 125,563 incidents in 2023, an increase of 18% from the previous year and the highest level since 2004.

The number of robberies also showed an increase last year, with a total of 81,094 offences, an increase of 13% compared to the previous year. However, looking over the longer term, robberies have fallen significantly since 2003, by 26%.

Knife-related crimes saw a 7% increase, with police recording 49,489 offences. Although this number is 3% lower than in 2015, it still indicates a worrying trend. Notably, the knife crime data does not include information from Greater Manchester or Devon & Cornwall Police due to data recording issues.

On the positive side, fraud offenses have fallen by 16%, due to the decline in bank and credit account fraud, as well as a notable 34% reduction in advance fee fraud. Similarly, criminal damage incidents fell by 18%, including a significant 25% drop in criminal damage to vehicles.

Nick Stripe, head of crime statistics at the ONS, commented on the notable increase in robberies, theft from the person and shoplifting. He highlighted the substantial increase in shoplifting incidents, with over 100,000 additional offenses reported, along with the highest number of thefts from the person in two decades.

Overall, the ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated around 8.4 million offenses in the year ending December 2023, indicating a relatively stable trend compared to the previous year. However, the data also shows a long-term decline in crime, with the number of crimes down 25% compared to 2017.