Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the “tide could be turning” on shoplifting, pointing to a 17% rise in people charged for what has become a hot political issue. Speaking at the Usdaw trade union conference, which represents shopworkers, Starmer highlighted the government’s efforts to tackle retail crime.
Rise in Charges and Technology Hope
Starmer noted that the number of people charged with shoplifting has increased by 17%, according to figures published last week. He also emphasized the potential of technology, such as CCTV footage that can be shared immediately with police, to make a difference. “In some parts of the country, police and retailers have been using technology that sends CCTV footage through to the police immediately,” he said.
Official Statistics Show Slight Decline
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal a 1% fall in police-recorded shoplifting in 2025, though clarifications to counting rules mean they are not directly comparable to 2024. The Home Office told police forces last year that cases involving violence or threats should be counted as robbery of business property. Combined shoplifting and robbery of business offences rose 1% in 2025.
Government Action on Retail Worker Safety
Starmer condemned the abuse faced by shopworkers, calling it “disgraceful” that people feel sick to the stomach about their workday and that lives and livelihoods are ruined by persistent theft. The Labour government is attempting to introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker and has scrapped the “ridiculous regulation” where stolen goods worth less than £200 would not be properly investigated.
Political Reactions
The Conservatives accused Starmer of “a brazen cheek,” with shadow home secretary Chris Philp claiming shoplifting is up 8% under Labour and worsened by a drop of 1,300 police officers in the past year. Philp added that “Starmer is abolishing prison sentences under a year, which means virtually no shoplifter will ever go to prison.”
Public Perception and Retail Industry Response
Recent YouGov polling shows 33% of Britons have witnessed shoplifting in the past 12 months, though young people do not see it as a serious crime, and the public is split on whether it is acceptable for a starving person to shoplift food. Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said retail crime remains at very high levels, but government investment in policing and uniformed officers in shopping areas has started to produce results. She welcomed the crime and policing bill, which reclassifies theft and introduces strict protections for retail staff.
Retailers Support New Measures
Ed Woodall, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said the bill would “help to reset the narrative on shop theft.” Co-op also backed the government’s focus, reporting a more than 20% reduction in crime on its premises in 2025. Paul Gerrard, director of campaigns at Co-op, said: “Local stores are an anchor in communities, and we all must continue to do all we can to protect them and those that work in them.”
