Police-recorded shoplifting offences have fallen for the first time following a sustained period of increases, but the Retail Trust has warned that the figures do not mean the retail crime crisis is over.
The number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales dropped four per cent to 507,086 in the year to March 2026, down from 530,324 during the previous 12 months, according to the latest Office for National Statistics data.
The ONS said the decline followed a period of rising shop theft, although it cautioned that reporting levels remain low and that recent trends have also been affected by closer collaboration between retailers and police forces.
Police have been encouraging businesses to report every incident and submit evidence such as CCTV footage to help identify offenders and connect related crimes.
However, robbery of business property surged 91 per cent to 29,669 offences after police forces received clarification on how incidents involving violence or threats against shop workers should be recorded.
Under the updated guidance, an incident should be classified as robbery of business property when someone steals from a retail premises and uses or threatens violence against a shop worker, security guard or another person.
The ONS said the recording change had contributed to the increase in business robberies and may also have resulted in some offences that would previously have been counted as shoplifting being placed in a different category.
Retail Trust chief executive Chris Brook-Carter welcomed the reduction in shoplifting but urged the industry and authorities not to become complacent.
“Any reduction in retail crime is welcome, but today’s figures shouldn’t lead us to believe the job is done,” he said.
“Too many retail workers continue to experience abuse, threats and violence that can have a lasting impact on their confidence, wellbeing and sense of safety.”
Brook-Carter said stronger protections introduced through the Crime and Policing Act, alongside increased cooperation between retailers, police and support organisations, represented positive progress.
However, he insisted that the momentum needed to continue so retail employees felt confident reporting incidents, believed their complaints would be taken seriously and could access support after experiencing abuse.
“Our work with retailers and partners across the UK to improve reporting, provide practical training and ensure colleagues don’t have to cope with the impact of abuse on their own continues,” he said.
“Ultimately, success won’t be measured by crime figures alone, but by whether people working in retail genuinely feel safer, better supported and more confident every time they come to work.”
Overall, police recorded 1.6 million theft offences during the year, an eight per cent fall compared with the previous 12 months.
The ONS stressed that police-recorded crime figures are influenced by reporting and recording practices and do not capture every offence.
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