Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
Shoplifting in the UK is being described as an “epidemic” by store owners, with recorded cases reportedly rising to more than 1,000 a day.
The Times reports that ministers, police and retail leaders are working on a “zero tolerance” policy with a dedicated national unit and a commitment to attend the scene of every shoplifting incident that involves a threat of violence to staff of security.
Fewer people are being convicted of shoplifting year on year, but Tortoise analysis shows that of those convicted, a higher rate are being sent to prison, despite serious questions about the efficacy of those sentences.
The majority of prison sentences for shoplifting are under six months, with 35 per cent of less than a month. Experts including the Ministry of Justice agree that prison sentences of less than twelve months make people more likely to reoffend in the future, compared to sentences served in the community.
It is also far more expensive; six months in prison costs roughly five times more than a community order or suspended sentence.
Police claim that organised crime groups are mostly to blame for the spike in shoplifting, stealing high-value items from supermarkets to sell at pubs, car boot sales, and in online spaces like Facebook Marketplace.
Anti-poverty campaigners point out that incidents of stealing household essentials like baby formula are also on the rise as families struggle to afford to feed their families.
