Data: Shoplifting soars to highest levels since police records began

Shoplifting in England and Wales is now at its highest level since police records began, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Shoplifting offences surged 20% to 516,971 cases in the year ending December 2024, up from 429,873 the year before. This is the highest since current police recording practices began in March 2003.
However, British Retail Consortium director of business and regulation Tom Ironside said the ONS figures “severely underestimate the pr