Shoplifting incidents across London have increased by a staggering 54% over the past year, according to police crime statistics released today, prompting growing concern about retail worker safety in the capital.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data reveals that shoplifting crime has now more than doubled since pandemic levels, with the number of recorded incidents across England and Wales surpassing half a million annually for the first time.
London’s increases are among the most pronounced nationwide, with the City of London seeing a 61% rise in shoplifting offenses, while the Metropolitan Police area recorded a 54% increase.
Retail trade union Usdaw, which represents around 360,000 shop workers, warns that these statistics reflect a troubling trend that directly impacts frontline staff safety and wellbeing.
“The scale of the epidemic of retail crime is laid bare in these shocking police recorded crime statistics,” said Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary. “It is increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order. This is in no way a victimless crime, with weapons and violence used to ensure these criminals are not stopped.”
Impact on Retail Workers
The union’s latest annual survey, covering nearly 9,500 retail staff across the country, paints a disturbing picture of conditions faced by workers. More than three-quarters (77%) reported experiencing verbal abuse within the past twelve months, while 53% were threatened by customers and 10% suffered physical assaults.
Perhaps most concerning, two-thirds of respondents indicated that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they experienced were triggered by theft or armed robbery.
“Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers,” Lillis noted.
The surge in shoplifting comes at a time when many retailers are already struggling with economic pressures, with some major chains implementing additional security measures and even reducing operating hours in high-risk locations.
Nationally, police-recorded shoplifting incidents have risen by 127% since the pandemic, climbing from 228,250 in the year to March 2021 to 516,971 in 2024, according to the ONS data.
Legislative Response
The union has been campaigning alongside retail employers for substantial measures to tackle the growing problem, and has welcomed the Government’s introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill, which received unanimous support at its second reading in the House of Commons and is currently at committee stage.
Key provisions in the proposed legislation include:
- A new law specifically protecting retail workers
- Elimination of the controversial £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which critics argue has effectively decriminalized lower-value theft
- Funding for increased uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas
- Introduction of “Respect Orders” for offenders
“We now look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law,” said Lillis. “It is our hope that these new measures will help give retail workers the respect they deserve.”
Retail industry analysts note that the rising tide of shoplifting affects businesses of all sizes, from corner shops to major supermarket chains, with smaller independent retailers often least equipped to handle the financial and security challenges posed by persistent theft.
The Crime and Policing Bill is expected to complete its committee stage within the next month before returning to the House of Commons for its third reading.
For more information on retail crime prevention initiatives, visit Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Campaign at www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
