Huge rise in Devon and Cornwall shoplifting over last year
Figures have been released by the Office for National Statistics
Shoplifting has gone up by 36% across Devon and Cornwall in the last year, according to latest stats.
Office for National Statistics figures have been revealed for 2024.
There's been a rise in every force area in the South West, except one (Wiltshire).
Retail trade union Usdaw say they're 'deeply concerned' by the numbers - with trends showing persistent increases, with incidents more than doubling since the pandemic and, for the first time, topped half a million offences in a year.
An annual survey of nearly 9,500 retail staff by the union showed that over three-quarters had suffered verbal abuse and far too many had been threatened or assaulted.
Two-thirds of respondents said that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they had experienced were triggered by theft or armed robbery.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary says: “The scale of the epidemic of retail crime is laid bare in these shocking police recorded crime statistics and Usdaw’s own survey. 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. Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers.
“We have campaigned along with many retail employers for substantial legislative measures to combat this growing problem, and we are pleased that the Government has introduced the Crime and Policing Bill, with measures to tackle this issue. It was unanimously supported at its second reading in the House of Commons and is now at committee stage for detailed scrutiny by MPs.
“We now look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding for more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas, along with Respect Orders for offenders. It is our hope that these new measures will help give retail workers the respect they deserve.”