Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Shoplifting

Monday 31 March 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jessica Toale raised concerns about persistent shoplifting issues in Bournemouth affecting local retailers and staff safety.
  • Jim Dickson expressed frustration over the inability of businesses in Dartford to effectively address shoplifting incidents.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of local collaboration between authorities and businesses in tackling shoplifting, citing Operation Shopkeeper as a successful example.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jessica Toale Lab Bournemouth West
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Retailers in Bournemouth town centre and across the constituency have reported that repeat offenders are responsible for shoplifting, posing a safety risk to staff. Local initiatives such as Dorset police’s Operation Shopkeeper and the use of UK partners against crime system show progress.

Question

Many retailers in Bournemouth town centre and across my constituency have told me that the same people over and over again are responsible for shoplifting and putting their staff's safety at risk. Good progress has been made locally with Dorset police’s Operation Shopkeeper and the town centre business improvement district’s use of the UK partners against crime system, but what more can be done to tackle repeat offenders and to learn the lessons from successful initiatives such as those in my constituency?

Answer from The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing to the House’s attention the excellent initiative taking place in Bournemouth. It is a real example of the results that can be achieved when we get local authorities, businesses and law enforcement all coming together. I am keen to look carefully at examples such as that of Bournemouth and what is happening in the town centre to see how we can learn from such best practices and they can be disseminated.

Partly answered

How: Working With Partners, Looking Carefully At Examples

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Jim Dickson Lab Dartford
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Shop theft has increased significantly in the past two years, causing frustration among business owners and employees who feel powerless to address it. The measures contained in the Crime and Policing Bill aim to tackle this problem.

Question

Across my constituency, from the Co-op in Dartford to the Subway on the high street and Pet & Garden Supplies on Colney Road, I hear the same frustrating tales from business owners and shopworkers about how powerless they feel to tackle shoplifting. The measures contained in the Crime and Policing Bill to tackle that problem have just been set out and they cannot come soon enough. Will the Minister bring hope to people across the Dartford constituency that we will turn the tide on shoplifting after it was clearly deprioritised by the Conservative party?

Answer from The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)

Again, my hon. Friend is absolutely right. When the Conservative party left office, shop theft was at a record level, up 40% in the space of two years. The shadow Home Secretary, the right hon. Member for Croydon South (Chris Philp), now says “ZERO TOLERANCE” on shop theft, even in cases where less than £200 worth of goods has been stolen. Yet, in the two years that he was the police and crime Minister he left that £200 limit in place, allowed thieves to escape with impunity and, in the absence of any police, said that people should make their own citizen’s arrest. While shop thefts soared, all he had to say to the public was, basically, that they were on their own and should sort it out themselves.

How: Political Point Scoring

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)