Majority of Shoplifting Cases in England and Wales End Without Charge

Shoplifting offences have reached record levels across England and Wales, yet the majority of cases are being closed without any charges. Newly released figures reveal that more than 80 per cent of offences result in no suspect being held to account, raising questions over police capability and the consequences of a justice system seen as too lenient toward repeat offenders.

Police data show a total of 530,643 shoplifting incidents recorded in the 12 months to March 2025, the highest number since national records began in 2002. This represents a 20 per cent increase on the previous year and highlights the growing scale of theft affecting retailers. Of these cases, more than half were closed without a suspect being identified, and fewer than one in five led to charges. This means nearly 800 thefts are going unresolved each day.

The Metropolitan Police reported the weakest outcomes, with almost 77 per cent of cases closed without identifying a suspect and only 5.9 per cent resulting in charges. Other forces also struggled, though none matched London’s poor clearance rate despite record levels of police funding in the capital.

Critics argue that this represents a failure to protect businesses and communities. Senior Conservative MPs have called the figures “deeply concerning” and claim that persistent theft is eroding trust in the justice system. The Liberal Democrats described the findings as “a scandal”, criticising the lack of visible policing and warning that offenders are acting with near impunity. 

The rise in shoplifting is placing significant strain on retailers. The British Retail Consortium has already warned that theft and abuse of shop workers are increasing sharply, with incidents costing the industry billions annually. Many staff members report feeling unsafe, particularly in smaller shops where there is little security presence. Some chains have invested heavily in cameras and private security, but many independent retailers say they cannot afford such measures and feel abandoned by a system that prioritises paperwork over enforcement.

The government has promised reforms. Ministers plan to deploy more neighbourhood police officers and support staff to increase visibility and improve response times. A new Crime and Policing Bill is expected to introduce tougher penalties, including a specific offence for assaulting retail workers, and proposals to close loopholes around low-value theft that have long allowed repeat offenders to escape meaningful punishment.

However, business owners and crime experts warn that legislation alone will not solve the problem. They say that without more officers on the ground and effective follow-up investigations, offenders will continue to believe they can steal without consequence. There are also concerns about the consistency of crime recording, with some experts suggesting that figures may not reflect the full scale of the problem because many shopkeepers have stopped reporting theft altogether, believing little will be done.

The surge in theft, combined with the inability to bring offenders to justice, is fuelling fears that Britain’s high streets are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Calls are growing for immediate action to restore order and protect retailers, staff and communities. Unless detection and prosecution rates improve, the cost of shoplifting will continue to rise, placing an unfair burden on honest consumers and taxpayers who ultimately absorb the losses.