Retail Crime Across the United Kingdom in 2025: A Full Year in Review
- Catch A Thief UK
- Dec 23, 2025
- 5 min read
By Catch a Thief UK - December 23, 2025
The year 2025 has proven to be one of the most challenging for retail businesses across the United Kingdom. From high‑value thefts and serial shoplifting to violent attacks and abuse of frontline staff, the sector has faced unprecedented pressures, financially, operationally, and socially.
National Retail Crime Trends
Shoplifting & Theft
Official statistics indicate that 530,643 shoplifting offences were recorded in England and Wales alone in the year to March 2025, a 20 % increase year-on-year, the highest level since records began in 2003. Retail losses due to shoplifting and associated crime are estimated at £4.2 billion annually, including stolen goods, preventative security measures, and operational disruptions.
Survey evidence further reveals that 1 in 4 UK shoppers have witnessed a theft, while nearly 1 in 5 have seen abuse or threats towards retail staff. Opportunistic offenders and organised theft gangs alike have contributed to this rise, sparking national concern.
Violence & Abuse
The abuse and violence experienced by retail staff has escalated sharply in 2025, with over 2,000 incidents reported daily, encompassing verbal threats, assaults, and attacks involving weapons. Many retailers have referenced Martyn’s Law, originally focused on counter-terrorism, to enhance in-store security measures.
2025 Convictions & Sentences
Numerous high-profile convictions highlight the judiciary’s response to the surge in offences. Repeat offenders and serious thefts often resulted in custodial sentences and Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs), reflecting the growing recognition of retail crime’s social and economic impact.
England & Wales
Liam Hutchinson (32), London (Chelsea & Kensington) – 12 months + 10-year CBO for theft from multiple Boots stores totaling over £100,000.
Victor Leahu (32), City of London, 10 weeks + 5-year retail ban for repeated thefts from Boots, totaling £1,835.
Lloyd Miller (33), Southend, 2 years 3 months + 5-year CBO for 28 thefts from BP and Co-op, breaching prior orders.
Sean Dickson (33), Great Yarmouth, 8 months + 2-year CBO for 23 shoplifting offences and 1 assault.
Ryan Burgess (30), Newton-le-Willows, 9 months for multiple thefts in Boots, Spar, and B&M.
Edward Stokes (39), Cheshire, 15 months for targeting stores in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, and Handforth, stealing over £5,000.
Steven Hannah (42), Worksop – 5 months for four thefts across local shops.
Molly Jones (28), Staffordshire – 32 weeks for four counts of shoplifting totalling £200.
Soma Deasley (37), Peterborough – 28 weeks + compensation for 20th conviction of the year from multiple stores.
Kieron Smith (23), Teesside – 52 weeks for breaching a CBO with new shoplifting offences.
Scotland
Thomas Steele (44), Inverclyde, 8 months for multiple thefts across local shops.
These cases illustrate both the prevalence of repeat offending and the legal system’s focus on protecting staff, customers, and businesses.
Police & Law Enforcement Action
England & Wales
Metropolitan Police, Essex Police, Merseyside Police, and other forces strengthened retail-focused operations, including intelligence sharing and CCTV analysis. Day-of-action campaigns in London, Manchester, and Bristol led to dozens of arrests, seizure of stolen goods, and cooperation with retailer loss-prevention teams. In Essex alone, 2,829 shoplifters were arrested over two years, demonstrating the impact of proactive enforcement.
Despite these efforts, hundreds of thousands of offences remain unsolved, with forces highlighting resource limitations and case backlogs. More than 800 retail offences reportedly go unsolved daily, underlining ongoing systemic challenges.
Scotland
Police Scotland established Retail Crime Taskforces in Edinburgh, Inverclyde, and the Highlands. A September day-of-action resulted in 13 arrests and 35 detected offences, including assaults and weapon-related crimes. Overall, shoplifting rose 16 % in 2025, alongside increased violence toward retail staff.
Industry & Retailer Response
Retailers implemented a wide range of preventative measures:
Facial recognition systems (Facewatch) for tracking repeat offenders.
Security tagging of low-value items, including festive foods and everyday essentials.
AI-assisted monitoring pods in pilot schemes to detect shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.
Collaboration with private firms such as Catch a Thief UK and Pay My Fuel, providing real-time theft alerts, staff protection, and digital incident reporting.
Catch a Thief UK has actively contributed to reducing enforcement gaps by assisting in offender identification, supporting CCTV evidence management, and advising on staff safety and operational best practices.
Legal & Policy Updates
The UK Government has proposed several reforms to address retail crime:
Creating a standalone offence of assaulting retail staff, with custodial sentences and unlimited fines.
Removing the £200 “low-value” theft threshold in England & Wales, ensuring even minor shoplifting offences are prosecuted.
Powers of citizens’ arrest under Section 24A of PACE allow witnesses of indictable offences, including serious theft or assault, to detain offenders until police arrive, with emphasis on reasonable force and immediacy.
Distinctions remain between summary offences (lower-level, tried in Magistrates’ Courts) and indictable offences (serious, tried in Crown Court), the latter often resulting in custodial sentences.
Martyn’s Law continues to influence security protocols, staff training, and crowd management, though police and justice systems cite challenges with staffing and the high volume of incidents.
Best Safety Practices for Retailers
1. Staff Training – Recognise threat behaviours, de-escalate conflicts, implement safe intervention protocols.
2. Physical Security – Comprehensive CCTV coverage, anti-theft tagging, and panic alarms.
3. Partnerships – Collaborate with police, private security firms, and local business crime reduction teams.
4. Incident Reporting – Document incidents immediately with digital logs and engagement with crime databases.
5. CBO Awareness – Track repeat offenders subject to Criminal Behaviour Orders.
Looking Ahead
The events of 2025 highlight the financial, emotional, and social cost of retail crime. Coordinated efforts between law enforcement, retailers, and private solutions like Catch a Thief UK have proven effective in reducing offences and holding offenders accountable. Moving forward, collaborative strategies are essential:
Enhanced legislation and stricter sentencing
Investment in security technology
Community engagement and public reporting
Support services for victims and staff
Retail crime remains a pressing national issue, but continued vigilance, technological innovation, and strong legal frameworks offer hope for safer stores and protected staff in 2026 and beyond.
Sources & References:
ONS / Reuters – Shoplifting Surges
BRC Retail Crime Survey 2025
Police Scotland News Releases
Metropolitan Police Press Release
City of London Police
Essex Police Press Release
The Sun – Retail Crime Surge
UK Government Crime & Policing Updates
Comments