• New programme to target around 500 of the worst retail crime offenders in 18 areas
  • Suite of tactics will be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime
  • Launch comes as shop theft continues to fall and the charge rate rises to 24%

 A targeted new programme to crack down on around 500 of the worst offenders responsible for a disproportionate amount of retail crime is being launched. Backed by £2 million in funding, 18 police forces in the locations most blighted by shop theft across England and Wales will identify around 30 of the repeat offenders in their areas and intensify efforts to stop their offending once and for all. 

Police, probation and other partners will work from a single personalised plan to build stronger cases for the courts, bringing together evidence of multiple offences and patterns, to ensure this cohort face real consequences.  Offenders will face a tougher, more coordinated response, including more effective use of Criminal Behaviour Orders, which can ban repeat offenders from high streets and town centres. 

John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive of Neighbourhood Watch said:

“Shoplifting offences reached a record high last year and, while the latest figures suggest some improvement, our 2.3 million members know that retail crime remains a significant concern. Through our Community Safety Training, we hear from small business owners who are worried about the impact on their staff, customers and livelihoods. The renewed focus on tackling the most persistent offenders and bringing them to justice is a very welcome step. Much of this offending is linked to organised criminal networks, so targeted enforcement has the potential to protect retailers and communities alike.”

Other measures could include closer monitoring of perpetrators through Intensive Supervision Courts, as well as tagging where appropriate. Immigration enforcement will also be brought in where relevant, expanding the breadth of powers available to deal with foreign national offenders. They will then identify any immigration action available including detention, deportation or removal. This will support earlier checks on immigration status and help maximise any opportunities to progress return. Tackling this cohort can make a dramatic difference. 

According to police data, Operation Kelleher, a targeted crackdown in Bromley in 2025, slashed recorded retail crime by 70%. Some shops reported stock losses down by as much as 80%. The operation homed in on just 10 offenders responsible for a significant amount of retail crime across the borough, leading to arrests and charges, with Criminal Behaviour Orders secured against several offenders. One shop saw its weekly losses fall from £7,000 to just £400. After years of rising levels, shop theft is finally starting to fall with the latest figures showing a 24% decline since last year. But we must go further with an approach that is both tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.

Alongside the enforcement crackdown, offenders will be supported through both court-ordered requirements and voluntary interventions to tackle the drivers of their offending and break the cycle of crime. This could include guaranteed fast access to drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services, as well as employment and health support.

The £2 million will help participating forces and local partners target the worst retail offenders, with funding tailored to what is needed in each area. This could include specialist Navigators who play a key role coordinating agencies and support around individual offenders, alongside enhanced offender management, enforcement activity and access to services aimed at tackling repeat offending. Those who don’t comply or breach conditions of their court orders can face further enforcement action - including imprisonment in the most serious cases.

The first police forces to trial the programme have been selected because of their high levels of retail crime or their previous good working combatting the issue, and include *insert force name* and *insert force name*, with more to be announced.  The targeted programme will launch in spring 2027 with a staged activation across the participating areas. Lessons learned will help identify barriers in the system and build a tougher, more joined-up response to repeat offending.

It follows progress already made in the past two years, with more than 3,800 additional officers in neighbourhood roles across the country and shop theft down by 2%. Almost one in four shoplifting offences now lead to a charge, meaning more offenders are being caught and facing justice. It also builds on tough measures in the Government’s Crime and Policing Act, which tore up the so-called '£200 licence to steal', meaning every theft, regardless of the value of the goods, will be treated as the crime it is. The Act also makes it a specific criminal offence to assault a retail worker, because no one should go to work and fear for their safety.