Rise in shoplifting and muggings as police ignore ‘low level’ crime

Funding cuts and lack of manpower blamed for soaring rate of offences across England and Wales

Senior Political correspondent

SHOPLIFTING and muggings have increased across the UK, amid claims that police are ignoring low level crime because of funding cuts.

One area in England and Wales reported an increase of more than 30 per cent in shoplifting offences and a rise of more than 70 per cent for mugging as forces across the country prepare to publish their latest figures later this week.

Only five forces reported a fall in shoplifting crime in 2016-17, while many saw a rise hitting double figures.

The research was compiled using official crime statistics, comparing 12 sets of monthly data from 2015-16 to 12 sets of data from 2016-17 and taking an average percentage change for shoplifting and theft from a person.

Experts have warned that a decision to introduce a threshold of £200, below which shoplifters will be dealt with in a similar way to those who speed, has fuelled the rise. Organised crime gangs are also reportedly changing their behaviour to target a number of shops to steal items worth just under £200, to avoid police involvement.

Yesterday, The Daily Telegraph revealed so-called “low level” crime is on the rise across London, but a broader analysis of forces across England and Wales shows the pattern also extends outside the capital.

Of 44 constabularies in England and Wales, only five saw a fall in the number of recorded cases of shoplifting. The figures show there has been a similar increase in incidents of mugging across the country, with Northumbria reporting a 73 per cent rise in the crime and others, including Durham and Lancashire, posting figures showing an increase of more than a quarter.

Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs select committee, said community safety is at risk when forces do not have the manpower to deal with lowlevel crime.

The Labour MP said: “It is clear that the police are increasingly overstretched … if low value crimes are ignored, the danger is that crime grows.”

The data emerged as volunteers in Essex began patrolling streets in Basildon and Wickford to break up gangs, deter violence and stop vandalism amid concerns police are overwhelmed.

One of the founders of the Wick Patrol Group said: “In my view this is the direction communities are having to go in because the police have become very reactive to crime rather than proactive.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are clear that all crimes reported to the police should be taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts and met with tough sentences.”