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The retail industry has welcomed the Crime and Policing Act gaining Royal Assent, in a move that introduces tougher penalties for shop theft and violence against staff.
The act removes a previous rule where shoplifting under £200 was treated as a summary-only offence.
It comes as data from the Office for National Statistics showed 509,566 recorded shoplifting offences in the year ending December 2025. Elsewhere, recent figures from the Association of Convenience Stores found that 64% of retailers are now reporting more crime than in previous years.
Policing minister Sarah Jones said: “This government’s Crime and Policing Act represents a true reset in policy, giving retailers significantly bolstered protections. By removing the so-called £200 ‘licence to steal’, we will ensure that shop theft is no longer a ‘summary-only’ offence heard at a magistrates’ court with minimal punishment.
“This will help to break the cycle of shoplifters repeatedly stealing products and ensure they face proper justice – no matter the value.”
She added: “A new standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker, created in direct response to the sharp increase in violence and abuse experienced by staff, will send an unambiguous message: attacks on shop workers will be treated with the seriousness they deserve.”
British Retail Consortium CEO, Helen Dickinson, said: “The new Crime and Policing Act is a long-overdue turning point in the fight against retail crime. With 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse every single day and 5.5 million thefts a year, the extraordinary levels of retail crime cannot be accepted as simply part of the job.
“Stronger laws on assault and theft will send a clear warning to would-be offenders, but laws alone won’t keep retail workers safe. What matters now is consistent, visible police enforcement so colleagues can genuinely feel safe and protected at work.”
CEO of the Association of Convenience Stores, Ed Woodall, added: “Convenience retailers and shopworkers can feel more confident that action will be taken against prolific shop thieves as the government enshrines in law tougher penalties for attacks on shopworkers.
“These new powers need to be backed by local police forces on the ground and the wider justice system sending a clear message.”
Retail Trust CEO Chris Brook-Carter concluded: “The new measures will only work if shop staff feel confident enough to report what is happening to them. One in four retail workers have told the Retail Trust they do not report abuse and crime to their manager or the police.”
