Bira warns shoplifting data confirms indies face ‘retail crime crisis’
According to Bira’s own crime survey, most offences are not reported to police, with 91% of physical abuse incidents and 47% of thefts going unreported
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The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said new figures showing a sharp rise in shoplifting confirm the “retail crime crisis” facing independent shops across the UK.
Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show shoplifting offences rose by 13% to 529,994 incidents, despite an overall 4% fall in theft offences recorded by police. Theft from the person also increased by 5% to 145,860 offences.
Bira said the rise highlights the daily challenges faced by independent retailers, many of whom have seen repeated offences and a lack of visible enforcement. The association added that investment in local communities would help its members take greater pride in their shops and high streets, after years of calling for more targeted funding based on local needs.
According to Bira’s own crime survey, most offences are not reported to police, with 91% of physical abuse incidents and 47% of thefts going unreported. When reports are made, only 16.7% lead to prosecution. The organisation said this suggests the true scale of retail crime is far higher than official data indicates, with repeat offenders responsible for almost 70% of incidents reported by its members.
Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of Bira, said: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to 3,000 additional neighbourhood officers by March 2026 and the Crime and Policing Bill measures, including ending the £200 theft loophole and creating a new offence for assaulting retail workers. However, we urge swift implementation of the Government’s Winter of Action – the renewed focus on tackling shop theft in town centres following the summer crime blitz – and call for consistent police response standards across all forces.
“We would also like to see greater use of community behaviour orders in order to deal with the perennial offenders. Independent retailers are the backbone of our high streets and need visible support now to protect their businesses, their staff, and their livelihoods.”
Bira said it will continue to track incidents through its bi-annual crime survey and present findings to the Home Office, police forces and policymakers, calling for sustained national action to protect high streets.
