Express reporter Adam Toms spent a morning at Basildon Magistrates' Court observing sentencing hearings for two shoplifters, describing the experience as a "dire state of affairs" in an opinion piece for the newspaper.
One of the offenders was an asylum seeker who stole goods worth £553. His defence highlighted his "fragile" situation, noting he receives £49 a week in Government allowance while awaiting the outcome of his application to stay in the UK. The other man, who was homeless, had targeted the same BP garage 15 times despite a criminal behaviour order (CBO), which replaced ASBOs. Toms noted that CBOs are clearly not a sufficient deterrent.
Welfare and addiction links
Toms acknowledged that socio-economic difficulties often lead to crime, though some people steal simply because they think they can get away with it. Others may feel they have no choice but to steal to eat or fund addictions. Both men in the Basildon cases were drug users.
Brian Howard, the BP garage thief, told the defence counsel that if his benefits were "sorted out", he would not shoplift. Toms argued that without an adequate income, Brits will turn to taking things, though getting a job can be difficult for those with mental health and addiction problems. He suggested that many are stuck in a certain lifestyle, with some having no interest in escaping it.
Government response and new law
Toms called for improved help for vulnerable people and better job availability across every postcode, alongside a more no-nonsense approach to deterring thieves. He recalled his own time as a retail worker, when staff were advised not to stop thieves for safety reasons. Supermarket security guard Kane Manning told him that current advice from his firm restricts him to approaching and "challenging" suspected shoplifters, and he believes the Government needs to be tougher.
Ministers say they are taking action through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received royal assent in April. The Act repeals Section 22A of the Magistrates' Court Act 1980, removing the perceived immunity for shop theft of goods valued at £200 or less. The Government stated that all offences will now be tried as "general theft", an either-way offence with a maximum custodial sentence of seven years, instead of summarily in the magistrates' court unless the defendant elects for jury trial. Whether this will have any long-term impact remains to be seen.
