Overview

• Police closed 289,464 shoplifting investigations in 2024-25 with no suspect identified, equal to 55.5% of cases.
• Only 18.3% of investigations led to a charge, based on House of Commons Library data covering England and Wales (excluding Humberside) and the British Transport Police.
• Recorded shoplifting reached a record 530,643 offences in 2024-25, up 20% year on year, according to ONS figures.
• The Metropolitan Police reported the poorest outcomes, with 76.9% of 93,705 cases closed with no suspect and about 5.9% charged.
• Political pressure intensified as Liberal Democrats condemned the figures, a PCC’s call for shoppers to “challenge” thieves drew criticism, and police chiefs cited a new Retail Crime Strategy.