Over 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved last year, sparking alarm in a soaring crime crisis, reveals Liberal Democrats analysis.
Shoplifting Crisis: Over 560 Cases Unsolved Every Day
The latest data shows an average of more than 560 shoplifting cases going cold daily across England and Wales. The number of unsolved thefts hit a staggering 205,676 in the year ending July 2023.
This marks a 32% jump from the previous year and the highest figure in five years. Since 2019, nearly 844,000 shoplifting crimes have remained unsolved — a shocking blow to law and order.
Conservatives Under Fire for Failing Communities
The Liberal Democrats slammed the Tory government for letting criminals slip through the cracks, blaming cuts to community policing. Since 2015, over 4,000 Police Community Support Officers have vanished from the streets.
Only 12% of police officers in England are now assigned to frontline neighbourhood teams. This shortage has crippled efforts to clamp down on theft and keep shoppers safe.
Paltry Funding and Flawed Strategy Fail to Curb Crime
The party also condemned the Government’s token £30,000 shoplifting crackdown — a meagre 7p per offence that fails to tackle the root causes.
Liberal Democrats demand a return to visible, trusted police patrols with the resources needed to take down organised gangs and protect local communities.
Party Reacts: “Put Police Back on the Beat”
“As unsolved shoplifting soars, organised gangs continue unchecked while shopkeepers suffer. This Tory government is failing to tackle a growing crime epidemic,” warned Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP.
“Too many people don’t feel safe in their communities because this government has decimated community policing. We know what works — not gimmicks, but police back on the beat with proper investigations. If the Conservatives were serious, they’d invest in frontline policing instead of empty promises.”
