200,000 Shoplifting Cases Remain Unsolved

New figures have revealed that over 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in the past year, marking a five-year high. The statistics indicate a "growing crime epidemic" according to MPs.

An Average of 560 Thefts Go Unpunished Daily

On average, 560 shoplifting incidents resulted in no consequences each day over the past 12 months. Home Office statistics show that these unsolved cases make up 57% of total crimes without conviction across England and Wales.

Decline in Charges and Summonses

Only around one in seven thefts ended in a suspect being charged or summonsed, down from 19% in 2019. This decrease in successful outcomes highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tackling shoplifting.

Impact of Reduced Police Presence

Since 2015, over 4,000 community support officers have been taken off the streets, significantly reducing police presence. Last year, only 12% of officers in England and Wales were assigned to frontline neighbourhood policing teams.

New Police Taskforce Announced

In response to the rise in shoplifting, a new police taskforce called 'Pegasus' was announced in October. However, the taskforce receives only £30,000 in funding per year, equivalent to just 8p per theft.

Call for Increased Focus on Community Policing

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael, criticized the government's approach and called for a return to proper policing. He emphasized the importance of putting police back on the beat and ensuring that crimes are properly investigated.

Investment in Frontline Policing Urged

Mr. Carmichael argued that gimmicks and task forces are not effective in stopping shoplifting. Instead, he called on the Conservative party to invest in frontline policing to address the issue effectively.