Retailers across the UK say theft is “spiralling out of control” after official figures show shoplifting in England and Wales has reached its highest level in more than two decades.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 530,643 reported shoplifting offences in the year to March 2025 — a 20% increase from the previous year.
The ONS described “sharp rises” in shop theft since the pandemic, while retail groups have expressed alarm at the rise in organised criminal gangs targeting multiple stores in a single day.
The figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales show shoplifting offences are now at their highest level since current police recording practices began in March 2003.
“The ONS figures prove what retailers have long been telling us – that retail theft is spiralling out of control,” said British Retailers Association director Tom Ironside.
Mr Ironside stressed that theft is “not a victimless crime”, citing its link to violence and abuse toward retail staff and costs to retailers and customers of £2.2bn a year.
“The rise in organised crime is a significant concern, with gangs hitting store after store, even within a single day,” he added.
Similarly, James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), said the official statistics only tell part of the story. The ACS’s own crime report revealed that convenience stores recorded more than 6.2 million incidents of shoplifting in the past year.
“Retailers tell us that they won’t report crime if they have no faith in it being investigated,” said Mr Lowman, adding that the entire justice system must take retail crime seriously to stop repeat offending.
The UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) initiative provides businesses with streamlined crime reporting, data sharing, and collaboration tools. Designed to tackle the under-reporting and administrative burden around shoplifting incidents, UKPAC members benefit from:
- Simple online reporting: Incidents can be logged in minutes, with full details and CCTV footage included.
- Collective intelligence sharing: Information across retailers builds stronger cases against prolific offenders.
- Direct collaboration with police: Ensures intelligence moves quickly to enforcement agencies.
- Affordable membership: From as little as £20 per month, businesses gain access to advanced tools to protect staff and stock.
- Real-time alerts: Retailers receive live notifications on local crime trends and high-risk offenders.
- Community reinvestment: As a cooperative, UKPAC reinvests surplus funds into crime-prevention projects, giving members a voice in future initiatives.
For many retailers, the combination of affordability, efficiency, and intelligence-led policing makes UKPAC a game-changer in tackling rising retail crime.
Behind UKPAC sits SentrySIS, a cloud-based digital crime and evidence management system (DEMS) already in use by national retailers, police forces, business crime reduction partnerships (BCRPs) and local authorities across the UK.
Its capabilities go far beyond incident reporting:
- Case Files Module: Builds prosecution-ready evidence packs, including MG11 witness statements, CCTV, and business impact statements.
- Connect Live: A real-time video and multimedia messaging tool enabling instant collaboration between retailers and law enforcement.
- Intel 360: A mapping and analytics dashboard identifying crime patterns, hotspots, vehicles, and repeat offenders.
- GDPR-compliant security: Ensures all sensitive information is stored and shared safely across agencies.
Proven results include:
- Over £38m in recovered stolen stock for retailers nationwide.
- 8,000+ digital evidence packs submitted to police and CPS.
- 75,000 offender profiles and 278,000 recorded incidents across the UK.
- 27,000+ daily users, demonstrating widespread adoption and impact.
By providing a single digital ecosystem for crime reporting and intelligence sharing, SentrySIS reduces administrative overheads, increases police efficiency, and ensures faster interventions against organised retail crime.
PCC-Funded Initiatives: Devon & Cornwall and Hampshire Lead the Way
Two major initiatives highlight how Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are investing in SentrySIS and UKPAC to help retailers fight back:
Torbay, Devon & Cornwall – Funded by PCC Alison Hernandez
A 12-month pilot, funded by PCC Alison Hernandez, gives Torbay retailers one year’s free access to UKPAC powered by SentrySIS.
Part of the Street Focus: Torquay initiative tackling antisocial behaviour in Castle Circus and surrounding areas, the pilot provides retailers with a fast, simple, and secure way to report shoplifting incidents and share intelligence with police.
“Retail crime is not just a business issue — it impacts the whole community… This pilot gives traders in Torbay the tools to take a stand… make our streets safer,” said Commissioner Hernandez.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight – Funded by PCC Donna Jones
In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, PCC Donna Jones has invested £177,548 to fund UKPAC across the region.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, said: “Shop theft affects retailers all over Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Shoplifting crimes have been going up year-on-year with the majority of shoplifting carried out by repeat offenders who target stores every day, leaving businesses feeling helpless – constantly fighting to protect stock and staff. It’s been an ongoing battle for support but UKPAC will help businesses who have been crying out for a simple way to report crimes and for assurances that they will be investigated.
“This is the biggest investment I have made so far to tackle retail crime. UKPAC gives businesses a simple way to report crime and provides police the evidence they need to catch offenders and put them before a court. It frees up police time, it means shopkeepers don’t have to ring 101 to report every crime, they can submit their own evidence and they will be automatically updated when offenders are brought to justice.
“Shopkeepers often know who their offenders are and this platform will give them peace of mind and reassurance that action is being taken. It will support retailers and protect staff from threats, abuse and violence. It will make your town centres safer, and help to drive down crime.”
The platform, already adopted by local businesses including 22 Sports Direct stores, enables retailers to:
- Report incidents digitally, attaching CCTV and evidence.
- Generate intelligence packages for police follow-up.
- Collaborate across towns to tackle cross-border offending.
Access to the platform is free until April 2026, creating a regional model for tackling retail crime through digital intelligence and multi-agency collaboration.
Why This Matters: The Benefits for Everyone
For Retailers
- Less admin, more action: Simple reporting saves staff time.
- Evidence-ready cases: Faster police response and higher prosecution rates.
- Cost savings: Prevents repeat offending and reduces losses.
For Police
- Streamlined intelligence: One system for data, evidence, and alerts.
- Hotspot targeting: Intel 360 analytics identify problem areas quickly.
- Better outcomes: Stronger evidence packages reduce case backlogs.
For Communities
- Safer high streets: Tackling retail crime improves local environments.
- Economic benefits: Reduces costs passed on to consumers.
- Stronger relationships: Retailers, police, and communities working together.
Conclusion: Turning the Tide on Retail Crime
The latest ONS figures confirm what retailers have long warned: shoplifting in the UK is at crisis levels, with organised crime gangs targeting stores at an unprecedented scale.
But through UKPAC’s cooperative reporting model and SentrySIS’s cutting-edge digital platform, supported by PCC funding, retailers finally have the tools to fight back.
By transforming individual reports into shared intelligence and prosecution-ready evidence, these initiatives are making retail crime harder, riskier, and far less rewarding for offenders and helping to reclaim Britain’s high streets for businesses, staff and shoppers alike.