Police to target 500 chronic shoplifters in retail crime crackdown in England and Wales

Five hundred of the most prolific shoplifters across England and Wales will be targeted in a police crackdown on retail crime, with tougher sentences, high-street bans and GPS tagging.

The home secretary said up to 17 police forces will target the repeat offenders in their area, collecting evidence of offences to secure stronger sentences and ensure they face “real consequences”, backed by an extra £2.5m in funding.

Tactics will include the expanded use of criminal behaviour orders, where repeat offenders are banned from high streets and town centres, GPS tagging, and intensive supervision courts, where perpetrators must attend regular judicial hearings.

Those who do not comply or breach conditions will face imprisonment in the most serious cases, and foreign offenders could face deportation.

The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the government wanted to target people “who are causing so much harm to our communities”.

She said: “A small number of offenders commit a disproportionate amount of shop theft. They wreak havoc on our high streets, leave businesses out of pocket and make retail workers scared to go to work.”

The government said it wanted to replicate the success of Operation Kelleher, a targeted crackdown on 10 shoplifters in Bromley in 2025 which reduced recorded retail crime in the area by 70%, according to Metropolitan police data.

The number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales rose to the highest level on record in 2024, surpassing half a million offences. Last year there was a 2% decline.

The Metropolitan police said 104 repeat offenders were responsible for more than 5,300 shoplifting crimes over the past two years.

Simon Roberts, the chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said retail crime was a “national emergency which requires a national response”.

He said: “The number of incidents of theft, abuse, aggression and violence happening in stores right across the country has an unacceptable impact every single day.

“We now need to see more arrests and prosecutions of those who target UK retailers without fear of consequences and we look forward to working closely with authorities as these measures are put into action.”

Former shoplifters have spoken about how drug addiction and mental health problems are one of the main drivers of this type of crime, and charities have urged for more funding for support services.

The government said the police crackdown would also be tough on the causes of crime by tackling drug and alcohol addiction “to break the cycle”.

Revolving Doors, a charity that helps to rehabilitate repeat offenders, said the scheme was a chance to “follow the evidence on what works, combining focused enforcement with sustained support to address the addiction, mental ill health and homelessness that can drive repeat offending.

“Success should mean fewer repeat offences and safer communities, alongside more people able to recover, contribute and realise their potential.”

Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said dealing with the small group of repeat offenders responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime was crucial.

“Combining robust enforcement with targeted support to tackle the root causes could make a real difference to our high streets and communities,” she said.