ACS has responded to the publication of the latest crime figures from the Office for National Statistics, showing yet another record number of shoplifting offences in the year to December 2024.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales, published today (24th April 2025), has shown that in the 12 months to December 2024, there were 516,971 recorded shoplifting offences compared to 429,873 in the previous year. This is an increase of 20%.

The number of offences continues the trend of ONS crime outputs showing the highest ever recorded figures since current recording practices began in 2003.

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “The increase in shop theft shown by these figures reflects what our members are seeing every day in their stores. The volume of theft is still massively under-reported though: our own member survey revealed 6.2million thefts recorded by convenience stores alone.

“It is encouraging that more theft is being reported, even if it is still only the tip of the iceberg. Unless theft is reported, we cannot identify the repeat offenders who are responsible for so much of this crime. The Crime and Policing Bill gives more powers to the police and courts to deal with these offenders, and the Retail Crime Action Plan makes clear that shop theft must be investigated. It’s time that these plans were implemented across the country to support retailers and their colleagues.”

The Crime and Policing Bill will be introduced later this year, making it a separate offence to assault a shopworker among other measures. ACS has been calling for a complete reset on the perception of retail crime and especially shop theft, with an ambition to send a clear message that theft is a crime that will be investigated by local forces.

More details on the Crime Survey for England and Wales are available here:  https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingdecember2024

The 2025 ACS Crime Report is available here:  https://www.acs.org.uk/research/crime-report-2025