'Shameful' shoplifting figure show hundreds of cases going unsolved every day

Almost 800 shoplifting cases a day went unsolved in England and Wales last year, alarming figures show.

This is up 18% in a year, data from the House of Commons Library shows. A total of 289,464 shoplifting investigations were closed with no suspect identified in 2024-25.

This is up from 245,337 the previous year, and is the equivalent to 793 shoplifting cases going unsolved a day. Lib Dem MP Joshua Reynolds, a former shop worker, said: “These shameful figures show that the police are failing to crack down on the shoplifting epidemic facing our country."

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Figures show 55% of investigations into shoplifting offences carried out by police ended with no suspect being identified. And just 18% of shoplifting cases reported to the police led to a suspect being charged.

The Government has vowed to tackle shoplifting by bulking up neighbourhood policing teams and tearing up Tory legislation which means thefts under £200 are less like to result in prosecution.

Mr Reynolds hit out at Tory police and crime commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber, who this month said the public has a "responsibility" to challenge shoplifters. Mr Reynolds said: “The suggestion by a Conservative police chief that it’s up to the public to stop shoplifters was both reckless and dangerous.

"I’ve worked in retail so I know what it feels like to have to confront shoplifters - it’s frightening and it’s dangerous. Senior police chiefs should be protecting us, not passing the buck to the public."

Earlier this month Mr Barber, PCC for Thames Valley, said: "I am not laying down some rules on this. But I encourage people to do something.

"If we want to live in a safe, prosperous society, we all have a responsibility." And he continued: "If you're in a store and you witness shoplifting happening I think at the very least you should report that to the police, report it to the staff, perhaps take some mobile phone footage, shout at someone 'put that back'.

"Some people will feel able to physically intervene but I am not encouraging everybody to be rugby tackling offenders to the ground and put themselves at risk."

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