Shoplifting offences in England and Wales rise to highest level in 20 years

Published

1 year ago

January 25, 2024

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Shoplifting offences in England and Wales have soared to the highest level in 20 years.

Some 402,482 offences were recorded by police in the year to September 2023 – the first time it risen above pre-pandemic levels, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

That is up by almost a third (32%) on the previous 12 months, when 304,459 offences were recorded.

The previous peak of 382,643 was recorded in the year to March 2018.

The ONS found there was a “mixed picture of crime” but pointed to a “notable increase in some theft offences, including shoplifting”.

There was also a rise in the thefts of motor vehicles, the data showed.

It follows concerns by major retailers over the rising cost of theft.

Co-op’s food business lost £33m in just six months last year as shoplifting cases surged, with executives warning how shop looting perpetuated by prolific offenders and organised criminal gangs “is becoming genuinely one of the most significant issues facing UK communities”.

The government unveiled an “action plan to tackle shoplifting” in October after facing pressure to deal with increased thefts, blamed on the cost of living crisis.

But policing minister Chris Philp came under fire earlier this year after telling Sky News the cost of living crisis is “no excuse” for a rise in shoplifting as the UK’s benefits system is “very generous”.

In a separate ONS survey entitled Business Insights and Conditions, which analyses the impact of economic challenges on UK firms, 29% of trading businesses said their turnover had decreased in December 2023 compared with a month earlier.

Meanwhile, 17% said they expect to raise the prices of goods or services they sell in February this year – with almost a quarter blaming labour costs.

Recorded crime may not reflect true figures

The overall number of crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in the 12 months up to last September stands at 6.7 million, the ONS said – just up from 6.6 million the previous year.

However, the separate ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales suggested people aged 16 or over had fallen prey to 8.5 million offences in the year up to September 2023.

Police recorded crime data showed robberies were up by 12% to 79,091 offences, compared with 70,792 in the year ending September 2022.

Homicides decreased by 9% from 651 to 591 over the same timeframe.

Some 191,186 sexual offences were recorded by police, a 3% drop from the previous 12 months, when the figure stood at 198,106.

However, it is 17% higher than the 163,326 offences recorded in 2019-20, ahead of the pandemic.

An improvement in police recording offences, together with more victims coming forward and changes in data to include new offences have made “substantial contributions to rises in recorded crime”, the ONS said.

UK

Rachel Reeves threatens to sue Roman Abramovich over Chelsea FC sale proceeds

Published

3 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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Rachel Reeves threatens to sue Roman Abramovich over Chelsea FC sale proceeds

The chancellor and foreign secretary are threatening to take Roman Abramovich to court to seize the proceeds of his Chelsea FC sale.

The Russian oligarch, who is sanctioned by the UK government over his alleged links to Vladimir Putin, sold Chelsea for £2.5bn to an American consortium in 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Those funds remain in a frozen UK bank account but are meant to be used for humanitarian causes linked to the Ukraine war.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have now said they are “deeply frustrated” an agreement cannot be reached with the oligarch and will take him to court if it cannot be dealt with soon.

In a joint statement, they said: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.

“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.

“While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”

Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea – which he bought for a reported £140m – after 19 years of ownership, after being sanctioned by the government over his alleged close ties to the Russian president – something he denies.

The sale was made under the supervision of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, under the proviso the proceeds go to humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

They cannot be moved or used without a licence from the office.

In March, the Foreign Office said officials were in talks with Abramovich’s representatives, but multiple sources told the BBC there had been no meetings between any Labour ministers and members of the foundation set up to oversee the funds since last July’s general election.

They said there was a deadlock and a political decision by a minister is needed to negotiate and sign off an agreement.

It is not known if there have been meetings in the three months since then.

The £2.5bn – and interest accrued – would make up for some of the reduction in the aid budget, announced in February.

UK

Human remains found in search for Izabela Zablocka who disappeared 15 years ago

Published

3 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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Human remains found in search for Izabela Zablocka who disappeared 15 years ago

Human remains have been found as part of an investigation into the disappearance of a Polish woman 15 years ago.

Izabela Zablocka was living in the Normanton area of Derby but lost contact with her family in August 2010, when she was 30, and has never been found.

However, new information came to light last week and a murder investigation was launched.

Derbyshire Police said remains believed to belong to Ms Zablocka had now been discovered in the garden of a property on Princes Street in Normanton.

A 39-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of murder was re-arrested on Monday.

Two other women, aged 39 and 43, and a 41-year-old man arrested last week remain on bail.

Detective Inspector Kane Martin said formal identification hadn’t yet taken place but it’s believed the remains belong to Ms Zablocka.

“As such, we have spoken with Izabela’s family in Poland, and they are aware. Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time,” he said.

“Identification of the remains is likely to be a lengthy process, but we will issue updates when we are able.”

Police will remain at the address for now as they try to gather more evidence on Ms Zablocka’s death.

A £20,000 reward is being offered until 27 August for information that leads to a conviction. Anyone who wants to get in touch is urged to contact the Crimestoppers charity.

DI Martin added: “We know that someone out there will have information about Izabela that may help us understand what happened to her, and urge anyone who saw, spoke to, or heard anything about Izabela in July or August 2010 to come forward.

“You may hold the key piece of information that we need to understand the full circumstances of Izabela’s disappearance, and to give her family answers on what happened to their loved one.”