Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the “tide could be turning” on shoplifting, pointing to a 17% rise in the number of people charged for the offence. Speaking at the Usdaw trade union conference, he highlighted that CCTV footage shared immediately with police should be used more widely, adding that “the hope of technology” could make a difference.
Official figures last year revealed annual shoplifting offences in England and Wales had passed half a million for the first time. Starmer described the abuse faced by shopworkers as “disgraceful” and reiterated his government’s plan to introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker. He also noted the scrapping of the “ridiculous regulation” where stolen goods worth less than £200 would not be properly investigated.
The latest Office for National Statistics data show a 1% fall in police-recorded shoplifting in 2025, though recent clarifications to counting rules mean the figures are not directly comparable to 2024. Combined shoplifting and robbery of business property offences rose 1% in 2025. The Conservatives accused Starmer of “a brazen cheek”, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp claiming shoplifting was up 8% under Labour and worsened by a drop in police numbers of 1,300 in the past year.
Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said retail crime remained at very high levels but welcomed the government’s investment in policing and the crime and policing bill, which reclassifies theft and introduces strict protections for retail staff. Alex Baldock, chief executive of Currys, also welcomed making aggression against retail workers a standalone offence, while Ed Woodall of the Association of Convenience Stores said the bill would “help to reset the narrative” on shop theft.
