Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

THE levels of shoplifting have reached an all-time high in the UK, and Merseyside has seen the same drastic rise in offences.

Over 8,000 shoplifting offences have taken place in Merseyside over the past year, which is the highest it has been in the last 5 years, a new investigation has revealed.

Figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK found that Merseyside Police have logged 35,963 shoplifting offences in the area since April 2021, with figures rising dramatically since 2023.

The data comes in light of the news that shoplifting in England and Wales has risen to a new 20-year high after the Office for National Statistics revealed that offences have been up 30% in the previous 12 months.

During this time, retail bosses have accused ministers of allowing shoplifting to effectively become decriminalised, with large disparities between annual offences and resulting prosecutions, as well as a large number of offences not being reported.

In 2019/20, the number of offences sat at 5419, which is the lowest total in the past 5 years.

This number then rose to 6077 in the next 2 years despite the restrictions and lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As these restrictions were lifted, the amount of shoplifting offences began to rise as, in 2022/23, the number increased to 7468.

Over the past year, the area has experienced a huge increase in the number of shoplifting offences, with the number rising to 8494 in 2023/24, which is in line with the general increase of offences across the UK.

Despite these record levels of offences, research conducted by The Times suggested that police officers have almost ceased punishing shoplifters.

1 of the suggested driving factors behind the increase in shoplifting offences is said to be the cost of living crisis that the UK has experienced over recent years.

Personal Injury Claims UK also obtained figures on how many shoplifting offences led to a prosecution, such as a charge or summons.

Although the number of offences is on the rise, the number of charges and summons has stayed between the 1000 to 2000 mark, meaning that only around 20% of shoplifting offences in Merseyside result in a prosecution.

In 2019/20, the number of charges and summons stood at 1084, which meant that only 20% of shoplifting offences resulted in this outcome.

The next 3 years saw an increase to 1365 charges and summons as more offences started to take place over that period.

As COVID-19 restrictions lifted and the cost-of-living crisis ensued, the number of charges and summons rose again, rising to 1801 in 2023/24.

Some retailers, such as the Co-op and John Lewis, have reported record levels of retail crime, with incidents of abuse, violence, and anti-social behaviour accompanying the surge in theft.

The cost to businesses is substantial, with theft losses doubling in the past year to £1.8 billion and an additional £1.2 billion spent on anti-crime measures, which is up from £950m the year before.

Personal Injury Claims UK offers free advice and support to those who may have been injured at work while confronting a shoplifter.

They operate a 24-hour helpline and claim online form, which you can access on their website.