Retailers must rethink store layouts to combat theft, a Labour minister has warned, as shoplifting surges to record levels. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson urged shops to avoid placing expensive items like alcohol near entrances, stating, “Obviously, people will nick them.” Her comments follow alarming new data showing shoplifting offences in England and Wales surpassed 530,000 last year a 20% increase. Retail leaders blame lax enforcement, claiming thieves act with “impunity.”
Dame Diana emphasized that retailers must rethink store layouts to combat theft effectively. She argued that easily accessible premium goods tempt criminals. “If they’re stealing to resell, they’ll target those items first,” she said. However, she discouraged shoppers from confronting thieves directly. Instead, she advised reporting incidents to staff. This comes after a Tory police commissioner suggested the public should challenge shoplifters a stance Dame Diana called risky.
Richard Walker, executive chairman of Iceland, said thefts have grown more violent and widespread. His chain now records over 1,000 serious incidents yearly, including armed robberies. “Offenders believe they won’t face consequences,” he said. The government plans to address this by scrapping a £200 theft threshold that previously discouraged prosecutions. A new offense for assaulting retail workers is also in the works. Meanwhile, facial recognition vans will roll out in seven regions to identify suspects.
While Dame Diana backed facial recognition as a “proportionate” tool, critics like Baroness Shami Chakrabarti fear overreach. “This pushes us toward a surveillance society,” she warned. Despite debates over tactics, one thing is clear: retailers must rethink store layouts to combat theftwhile authorities strengthen enforcement. Without action, businesses and shoppers will keep paying the price.
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