UK police to target 500 chronic shoplifters in retail crime crackdown

The Home Office has launched a programme to target around 500 of the country’s most prolific shop thieves, with up to 17 police forces in England intensifying efforts against repeat offenders in their areas.

Tactics will include the expanded use of criminal behaviour orders, which can ban repeat offenders from high streets and town centres, GPS tagging, and intensive supervision courts, where perpetrators must attend regular judicial hearings. Those who do not comply or breach conditions could face jail time, and foreign offenders could be referred to Immigration Enforcement, with deportation where appropriate.

The programme is backed by an initial £2.5m in overall funding to support participating forces and local partners, tailored to what is needed in each area. Activity is due to start in stages from early next year, with the aim to mobilise across all areas by spring 2027.

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: “Under this government, shop theft is starting to fall, and more offenders are getting charged. But now we are going further by targeting those who are causing so much harm to our communities and stopping them in their tracks.”

The government said it wanted to replicate the success of Operation Kelleher, a targeted crackdown on 10 shoplifters in Bromley in 2025 that reduced recorded retail crime in the area by 70%, according to Metropolitan police data. The operation homed in on just 10 offenders responsible for a significant amount of retail crime across the borough, leading to arrests and charges, with Criminal Behaviour Orders secured against several offenders. One shop saw its weekly losses fall from £7,000 to just £400.

The number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales rose to the highest on record in 2024, surpassing half a million offences. Last year there was a 2% decline. The Metropolitan police said 104 repeat offenders were responsible for more than 5,300 shoplifting crimes over the past two years.

The first police forces invited to trial the programme have been selected because of their high levels of retail crime or their previous good work combating the issue. These include West Midlands, Merseyside Police, and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Simon Roberts, the chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said retail crime was a “national emergency which requires a national response”. He said: “The number of incidents of theft, abuse, aggression and violence happening in stores right across the country has an unacceptable impact every single day. We now need to see more arrests and prosecutions of those who target UK retailers without fear of consequences and we look forward to working closely with authorities as these measures are put into action.”

Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers welcome the government’s new targeted programme to tackle prolific offenders. A small group of repeat offenders is responsible for a disproportionate amount of retail crime, so cracking down on these individuals is crucial. Combining robust enforcement with targeted support to tackle the root causes could make a real difference to our high streets and communities.”

Paul Gerrard, Co-op director for campaigns, public affairs and policy, said: “We welcome the government’s continued focus on tackling retail crime, particularly the harm caused in communities by repeat and prolific offenders.”

Ed Woodall, ACS chief executive, said: “The majority of theft from convenience stores is carried out by prolific offenders that are often known to retailers, the local community and the police and do enormous damage to responsible businesses.”

The government said the police crackdown would also be tough on the causes of crime by tackling drug and alcohol addiction “to break the cycle”. Former shoplifters have spoken about how drug addiction and mental health problems are one of the main drivers of this type of crime, and charities have called for more funding for support services.

Revolving Doors, a charity that helps to rehabilitate repeat offenders, said the scheme was a chance to “follow the evidence on what works, combining focused enforcement with sustained support to address the addiction, mental ill health and homelessness that can drive repeat offending.”

Sources

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