Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlights a concerning trend in England and Wales, where shoplifting incidents have surged to their highest level in over twenty years. In the past year, a significant 37% increase was seen in shoplifting offences, with a staggering 430,104 incidents reported. This rise in shoplifting aligns with growing worries among major retailers about the rising costs associated with theft.
Furthermore, the data indicates a rise in "thefts from the person," including snatch-thefts and pickpocketing, which reached 125,563 incidents in 2023. Notably, this marked an 18% increase from the previous year and the highest level since 2004. Alongside shoplifting, robbery incidents also saw an uptick last year, totaling 81,094 offences, showing a 13% increase from the previous year. However, when looking at the bigger picture, robbery rates have actually decreased significantly by 26% since 2003.
In addition to these concerning rises, knife-related crimes have also seen an increase of 7%, with 49,489 offences documented by the police. Despite being 3% lower than in 2015, this statistic is still worrisome. It's essential to note that the data on knife crimes does not include reports from Greater Manchester or Devon & Cornwall police due to data-recording discrepancies. On a more positive note, fraud offences have witnessed a 16% decline, primarily driven by reductions in bank and credit account fraud. Moreover, criminal damage incidents have decreased by 18%, including a substantial 25% drop in criminal damage to vehicles.
Nick Stripe, the head of crime statistics at the ONS, highlighted the notable increases in robbery, theft from the person, and shoplifting. He emphasized the noteworthy rise in shoplifting incidents, making it clear that over 100,000 more offences were reported. The ONS crime survey estimated approximately 8.4 million criminal offences in the period ending in December 2023, showcasing a relatively stable trend compared to the previous year. Moreover, there's been a long-term decline in crime, with offences being 25% lower than in 2017.