Around 500 of the country's worst retail crime offenders will face tougher restrictions under a new crackdown launched by the home secretary on 11 November 2026. A targeted programme will see up to 18 police forces focus on repeat offenders in their area who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of shop theft.
Police, probation and other partners will work from a single personalised plan for each case, building stronger cases for the courts and bringing together evidence of multiple offences to ensure the cohort faces real consequences. Offenders will face tougher restrictions and more coordinated management, including more effective use of Criminal Behaviour Orders, which can ban repeat offenders from high streets and town centres.
Measures and enforcement
Other measures could include closer monitoring through Intensive Supervision Courts, which subject offenders to more regular hearings in front of a judge, as well as tagging where appropriate. Those who do not comply or breach conditions can face further enforcement action, including imprisonment in the most serious cases. Immigration enforcement will also be brought in where relevant to utilise the breadth of powers available when dealing with foreign national offenders more quickly.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “A small number of offenders commit a disproportionate amount of shop theft. They wreak havoc on our high streets, leave businesses out of pocket and make retail workers scared to go to work.” She added that under this government, shop theft is starting to fall and more offenders are getting charged, but the new measures go further by targeting those causing so much harm to communities.
Retail leaders respond
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) chief executive Ed Woodall said the majority of theft from convenience stores is carried out by prolific offenders often known to retailers, the local community and the police, and welcomed the measures as a positive difference in targeted communities. Paul Gerrard, director of campaigns, public affairs and policy at Co-op, also welcomed the government's continued focus on tackling retail crime, noting a welcome reduction at Co-op but stressing that more needs to be done.
The announcement comes as part of Safer Business Action Week (SaBA) and a national partnership focus on tackling shop theft and abuse against retail workers. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said policing has made significant strides since the national Retail Crime Action Plan was introduced, with a 4% reduction in shoplifting offences in the last year.
Organised crime intelligence
ACC Alex Goss, NPCC lead for retail crime, welcomed the announcement, saying the programme aims to develop and test a more intensive, multi-agency approach to a small cohort of prolific offenders. A significant proportion of retail crime can also be attributed to organised crime groups. In May 2024, Opal, policing's national intelligence unit, launched the first national dedicated organised retail crime (ORC) intelligence capability as part of the Pegasus Partnership.
Chief superintendent Owain Llewellyn, head of Opal, said the unit discovers, develops and coordinates intelligence at local, regional, national and international levels. In the last six months, Opal's ORC team received 69 referrals from police forces and retailers, of which 53 were developed, resulting in 19 operations being adopted. A total of 2,001 offences have been recorded and 145 offenders identified, with 30 people arrested so far. Since its creation, the ORC has adopted 103 operations resulting in 287 arrests, 221 court outcomes including custodial sentences of more than 129 years, and 23 deportations, with a 73% reduction in offending by identified organised crime groups.
