Shoplifting incidents have surged by 50% across London’s police forces, with the City of London area seeing an alarming 91% increase, according to new police statistics. The rise comes amid growing concerns about violence against shop workers, with one in six now reporting physical attacks.

The retail crime wave has reached unprecedented levels, with the British Retail Consortium revealing that violence and abuse against staff has increased to more than 2,000 incidents daily in 2024. Despite retailers spending £1.8 billion on prevention measures, customer theft losses hit a record £2.2 billion last year.

“Staff are working in fear of the next incident,” says Paddy Lillis, general secretary of retail union Usdaw. The union’s latest survey of 4,000 retail workers found that violent attacks have more than doubled since 2022, with 17% of staff now reporting physical assaults compared to 8% previously.

The crisis is increasingly linked to organized crime, with gangs targeting stores to steal specific items to order. Seven in ten violent incidents reported by staff were triggered by theft or armed robbery attempts.

The government plans to address the crisis through the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, which will remove the controversial £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters – a limit critics say has effectively given criminals a “free pass” to steal.

Proposed measures also include increased police patrols in shopping areas and new “Respect Orders” for offenders. However, with incidents continuing to rise across both Metropolitan Police and City of London jurisdictions, retailers are calling for urgent action to protect staff and stores.

The crime wave is having a broader impact on communities, with increased store closures and anti-social behavior reported in affected areas. Retailers warn that without effective intervention, the situation could worsen, threatening both jobs and local services.