Shoplifting in Leicestershire - one district sees reports double in one year

An area of Leicestershire saw the number of reported thefts from shops soar by 104 per cent between 2022 and last year. Blaby district, which includes Fosse Park, had 291 such crimes in 2022 but that number rose to 594 in 2023.

The second-biggest leap was in North West Leicestershire, with police recording 261 crimes in 2022 and 454 the following year - a rise of 74 per cent. Leicester, Charnwood, Oadby & Wigston and Hinckley & Bosworth saw rises of between 20 and 35 per cent, while in Harborough the rise was just nine per cent.

But in Melton, the number of shoplifting incidents bucked the national trend by falling. There were 186 thefts from shops in 2022 and 175 the year after - a decline of six per cent. For more Leicestershire figures see the interactive map below.

READ MORE: 'Very well-known shoplifter' with 278 offences is jailed again

Nationally, the figures from the Office for National Statistics show that shoplifting increased by 37 per cent in England and Wales last year, rising from around 315,000 crimes in 2022 to a record 430,000 offences last year.

The biggest rise was in Eastbourne, Sussex, where police recorded 647 offences in 2022, and 1,918 last year - a 196 per cent rise. Eastbourne was followed by Mid Sussex, where shoplifting increased by 137 per cent, and then South Derbyshire, where it rose by 112 per cent.

Four other places - including Blaby - saw rises of more than 100 per cent. Melton was among only 12 local authority areas where the numbers fell and the biggest drop was in Ceredigion, Wales, where it dropped by 29 per cent.

Use the map below to look at other areas around the UK:

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has now called for more to be done nationally to protect retailers, shoppers, and shop workers. The association, which works with more than 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, said a survey of members revealed that more than a third had experienced verbal abuse within their shops.

Bira says its research has shown that “incidents of physical abuse remain alarmingly high, with an increase in shopkeepers facing violence, including threats with weapons such as needles, knives, and even instances of hammers being thrown at them”.

It said 70 per cent of retailers and their employees who were physically assaulted opted not to report the incidents to the police. Bira’s marketing director, John Halliday, said: “The latest ONS crime figures paint a troubling picture for independent retailers and businesses across the UK. The 37 per cent increase in shoplifting highlights the significant challenges faced by our sector.

"Retail crime not only inflicts financial losses but also poses a grave threat to the safety and well-being of shop staff and customers. It's imperative that urgent action is taken to address this concerning trend and ensure the security of both businesses and their employees and customers.

"Bira has been trying to tackle this issue for a long time and will continue to work with the Home Office and police forces to better protect businesses, their owners, and people who work in the shop.”