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(qlmbusinessnews.com Fri, 26th Jan, 2024) London, UK —
“Shoplifting Surge: England and Wales Report Highest Incidents in Over 20 Years”
In a concerning trend, the rate of shoplifting in England and Wales has surged to its highest level in over 20 years, according to the latest crime figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Police recorded a staggering 402,482 shoplifting offences in the 12 months leading up to September 2023, marking a significant spike of nearly a third compared to the previous year. This marks the first time the number has surpassed 400,000 since records began in 2002, highlighting the severity of the issue.
The surge in shoplifting incidents poses a significant challenge for retailers across the country, with the British Retail Consortium estimating that retail crime cost businesses a staggering £1.7 billion last year alone.
Retailers have been forced to take measures such as security-tagging high-theft items like baby formula, butter, and cheese, or reducing the number of display items on shelves to combat the growing problem.
The cost of living crisis and the economic strain on households have been identified as key factors driving the increase in shoplifting incidents. Additionally, retailers have cited an uptick in organised criminal gangs targeting stores as a contributing factor.
In response to the escalating issue, the government launched an action plan in October, which includes the creation of a specialist team to target organised criminals behind targeted incidents. However, challenges persist, with many cases going unpunished and a growing concern among retailers about the effectiveness of current measures.
The rise in shoplifting incidents adds to the overall increase in crimes recorded by police in England and Wales, which stood at 6.7 million in the year to September 2023, up 1% from the previous year.
As authorities and retailers grapple with this alarming trend, efforts to combat shoplifting and protect businesses remain a top priority.
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