Words by Martin Brisland. Image by Gerd Altmann.
Recently, I have witnessed incidents of shameless shoplifting in a local convenience store – young men loading up bags and just walking out.
The staff told me they are known repeat offenders and they are advised not to challenge them for their own safety.
So how have we ended up with the present epidemic and even normalising of shoplifting?
According to Retail Gazette figures, the number of reported offences in 2025 was 530,457. Despite this, across all 43 police forces an average of 19.8% of offences led to a charge. The Metropolitan Police were at the bottom of the table on 7%.
The so-called £200 Rule was introduced by the coalition government’s Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The crime is reported to police, but they rarely act if the amount lost is under £200.
By making shoplifting of goods under £200 a summary-only offence, it has created a perception that low-level shoplifting carries little real consequence and this has emboldened repeat offenders.
Marks & Spencer chair, Archie Norman, recently blamed self-service checkouts saying they had broken the human link between shop and customer. He felt they encouraged normally honest people to pop an item in their bag if it did not scan properly.
Retail staff deserve to feel supported and not fear going to work and being at risk of abuse. I notice that some now wear body cameras. In store private security staff have just a visual presence and are often told not to physically tackle offenders.
Recently, a Morrisons store manager with 29 years of service was sacked for trying to escort an abusive shoplifter from his store.
Drug addiction is a real issue, and some will steal to feed a habit. It is also said that shoplifting is now being run by organised crime gangs rather than poverty struck individuals in need of food.
Is this a sign of societal breakdown where individuals just feel they can do as they please? I know when I witnessed others brazenly stealing it made me question why I should follow the rules and pay for my goods as I have done all my life.
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