Almost 800 shoplifting cases a day went unsolved in England and Wales last year, shocking figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed, up 18% on the previous year.
The House of Commons Library research shows a total of 289,464 shoplifting investigations were closed with no suspect identified in 2024-25, up from 245,337 the previous year. This is equivalent to 793 shoplifting cases going unsolved a day.
Over half of investigations into shoplifting offences carried out by police ended with no suspect being identified. Meanwhile fewer than one in five (18%) shoplifting cases reported to the police led to a suspect being charged.
Responding to these figures, Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead and former retail worker Joshua Reynolds MP said:
“These shameful figures show that the police are failing to crack down on the shoplifting epidemic facing our country.
“The suggestion by a Conservative police chief that it’s up to the public to stop shoplifters was both reckless and dangerous. I’ve worked in retail so I know what it feels like to have to confront shoplifters – it’s frightening and it’s dangerous.
“Senior police chiefs should be protecting us, not passing the buck to the public. It’s time for the government to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners and invest the money in frontline policing instead. That way we can get more bobbies on the beat and stop this lawlessness on our high streets.”
