Shoplifting across England and Wales has recorded its first annual decline in years, falling to 509,566 offences in the year to December 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics data released today (April 23).
But despite the modest drop, industry bodies warn the ONS figures remain alarmingly high, with more than half a million incidents underlining the entrenched nature of retail crime and the ongoing pressure on shopkeepers.
Shoplifting offences in England and Wales have fallen for the first time in years, but a leading independent retailers association is warning that half a million offences a year is still far too high.
The British Independent Retailers Association, which works with over 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, said the direction of travel was encouraging but that complacency would be a mistake.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "We need to recognise that real progress has been made over the past 12 months. There has been a better response from police, more arrests, more community officers on the ground, and a much sharper focus on retail crime.
"That matters, and it should be acknowledged. However, the level of crime remains high and unacceptable. Half a million shoplifting offences in a single year is not a figure any of us should be satisfied with.
"We have to maintain focus and momentum, and we would urge every retailer to remain vigilant and to report every single incident. That reporting culture is what drives the data, and the data is what drives the political will to act."
Meanwhile, Lucy Whing, Crime Policy Adviser at the British Retail Consortium, said while ONS figures likely "underestimate the issue", as it only captures reported incidents, it aligns with BRC own data showing high levels of shoplifting in recent years.
"The causes are manifold, but the rise in organised crime is particular worrying as gangs systematically target one store after another across the country.
“Retail theft also contributes to rising levels of violence and abuse against staff, with 1,600 incidents every day. Fortunately, there are some signs of progress, with the government and the police taking steps to address retail crime through the Crime and Policing Bill which will soon receive Royal Assent.
"The proposed legislation will abolish the £200 threshold for so-called “low-level” theft, reinforcing that all shoplifting is unacceptable. It will also create a specific offence for assaulting retail workers, leading to tougher sentences and better recognition of the issue, enabling police to allocate appropriate resources.
"It is vital that the Police make full use of this new legislation so we can bring these numbers."