Shoplifting rates have reached record levels in England and Wales. This emerges from crime statistics published by the Office for National Statistics on Thursday. According to this, more than 400,000 cases of shoplifting were reported in the two parts of Great Britain in the twelve months up to September 2023. That was almost a third more than in the previous twelve months and more than ever since counting began in 2002/2003.
There is already talk of an epidemic of shoplifting in Britain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said on Thursday the government wanted to do more to combat the problem. Private companies, among others, should play a role in this. (dpa)