"Report, report, report" - retailers implored to help police to tackle the scourge of shoplifting
Shoplifting described as “biggest risk” to retailers by Police & Crime Commissioner
Shops and businesses are being implored to help police to tackle the scourge of shoplifting, with organised gangs of young people described as the “biggest current risk” to retailers across the county.
Businesses, including the likes of M&S, Primark, Co-op, and Tesco, have raised concerns about a worrying trend of youth-related disorder impacting stores and threatening staff in Hampshire, with much of the criminal activity thought to be significantly under-reported.
Speaking after a Business Crime Partnership meeting, Hampshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, while the threats and abuse being faced by shop workers are simply unacceptable. These offences have a major impact on the staff and the viability of many businesses.
“The constructive feedback from these meetings helps us to ensure retailers and police are working together to tackle the key issues.”
The 2025 Retail Crime Report by the British Retail Consortium found that incidents of violence and abuse towards shop workers rose 50 per cent from 2024 to 2025, with more than 2,000 per day across the UK. It also estimating that only eight per cent of offences are reported.
It is an issue across the region including in Portsmouth where one Commercial Road shop manager told The News that high street trading is a "daily struggle," citing "prolific offenders" who commit thefts "every single day." The same person noted a lack of assistance from the police.
However, the PCC has urged all businesses and retailers to report every incident to the police, saying it will then allow the police to take action.
She said: “It is no good if these incidents are not reported to police. We want the police to take action, but to do so the retailers must report, report, report. Theft of goods as well as violence towards shop workers are not tolerable – which is why I have made tackling retail crime one of the key priorities for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.”
Shoplifting has been linked to Organised Crime Groups that influence youth gangs and encourage targeted thefts of household items and high-value foods. While the issue appears to be increasing, it is not a new one.
Donna Jones stated that the app has saved “more than 2,000 hours of police time” in compiling crime reports allowing officers to be “on the frontline tackling these sorts of crimes”.
The deadline has been extended until the end of November for businesses to sign up for 12 months of free membership to UKPAC. More details can be found at www.uk-pac.com.