Somerset: 15,000 shoplifting offences take place this year

Over 15,000 shoplifting offences have taken place in Avon and Somerset over the past year, which is the highest it has been in the last five years, a new investigation has revealed.

Figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK found that Avon and Somerset Constabulary have logged 50,681 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 per cent 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 10,252, which is the third-highest total in the past five years.

This number then dropped to 7505 and this was due to 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 10,987.

Over the past year, the area has experienced a huge increase in the number of shoplifting offences, with the number rising to 15,636 in 2023/24, which is in line with the general increase of offences across the UK.

A graph showing the amount of Avon and Somerset shoplifting offences (Image: Sam Quine)One 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 guilty verdict.

Although the number of offences is on the rise, the number of guilty verdicts has stayed between the 1000 to 2000 mark, meaning that only around 15 per cent of shoplifting offences in Avon and Somerset result in this verdict.

In 2019/20, the number of guilty verdicts stood at 2097, which meant that only 20 per cent of shoplifting offences resulted in this outcome.

The next two years saw a decrease to 1010 guilty verdicts as fewer offences took place over that period.

As COVID-19 restrictions lifted and the cost-of-living crisis ensued, the number of guilty verdicts rose again, rising to 1972 in 2023/24.

A graph showing the amount of Avon and Somerset shoplifting guilty verdicts (Image: Sam Quine) 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.

The Avon and Somerset Police team are as dedicated as ever to bringing the numbers down.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We are committed to tackling prolific shoplifting, which continues to have a detrimental impact on local businesses and the wider community. We work in line with the Retail Crime Action Plan and in partnership with retailers.

"We have a dedicated Volume Offenders Team, established in March 2023, to manage the most prolific retail theft offenders.

"Meanwhile, our neighbourhood policing teams focus on pursuing offenders and preventing crime while protecting those at greatest risk. This can be demonstrated by recent proactive operations and action days, which have led to the arrest of shoplifters causing harm to retailers."

Officers also support stores and local businesses with advice on crime prevention and reporting, supplying QR codes to facilitate this process.

The Avon and Somerset Police team encourage you to report shoplifting offences via their online portal: Report shoplifting | Avon and Somerset Police.

Without your reports, the Avon and Somerset Police won’t be able to identify offenders, build a bigger picture of their crimes and take further action.

Avon and Somerset Police will soon be launching a retail crime information pack for shopkeepers, providing comprehensive information on how to report a shoplifting offence, complete witness and business impact statements, and submit the evidence needed to identify the perpetrator and secure an arrest.

This comes in response to stores not responding to requests for statements, not uploading quality CCTV when requested, and not providing sufficient evidence to progress a case.

The Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson added: "The 15,000+ offences reported is considerable, which our teams work hard every day to address. However, this rise in reporting also comes against a backdrop of rising poverty, use of food banks and drug use – issues that require a multi-agency response and not just a police response."