A fed-up shopkeeper forced to physically fend off thieves targeting his store has hit back at Sir Keir Starmer’s claim the government could be beginning to win the battle against shoplifting, telling the beleaguered PM: “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Andrew Board runs a store in Co Durham where, frustrated over a lack of police presence, he often chases down criminals attempting to flee with stolen goods, dragging them back inside to seize back items and take names.
The 40-year-old, however, claims that even after arrest, the criminals regularly reappear after minor punishment for another shoplifting spree in the community days later.
On Monday, Sir Keir claimed “the tide could be turning” against shoplifters as he said an extra 3,000 neighbourhood police officers had been put on the streets and a rule scrapped which had meant thefts of goods worth less than £200 were “not properly investigated” by police.
He said the number of people charged over shop theft had increased by 17 per cent, while the number of offences had fallen slightly last year.
He also said his government had “toughened up punishment too” – although analysis of Ministry of Justice figures by The Independent suggests the ratio of convicted shoplifters being sent to prison has stagnated, at 27.5 per cent in the year ending September 2025.
The average length of a prison sentence handed out to shoplifters also remained unchanged at two months, and the average fine fell £2 to £105.
Mr Board said: “There will be no change in the situation until just punishment is given out to those caught shoplifting. There is no deterrent, and the sooner politicians understand that and get a proper grip, this will only continue. Until then, it’s all hot air from Starmer.
“We on the front line, we have to face the regular threat from repeat shoplifters coming into our store. We have to deal with the loss of money, their behaviour. To some, it’s [stealing from a shop] become like winning a trophy.”
Several weeks ago, Mr Board said he caught a shoplifter attempting to steal “everyday” items while their accomplice distracted a staff member at the till. When they were stopped, the goods were seized, but later it was found they had eaten several stolen packets of crisps after leaving.
Mr Board said he tracked their identities using Facebook and passed on the information to Durham Constabulary. After eight weeks, he said, the force called him to report the pair had been dealt with via a community resolution, meaning they faced no conviction or criminal record from the offence.
A Durham Constabulary spokesperson told The Independent: “Officers spoke to the suspects – a man aged 41 and a woman aged 32 – who admitted the offence. They were dealt with through a community resolution and banned from entering several shops in the Durham area.”
As Sir Keir made his speech before the Usdaw shopworkers’ union on Monday, the Centre for Social Justice warned of a high street crime epidemic. The think tank shared analysis showing the average number of offences committed by shoplifters has nearly doubled in five years, rising from 5.5 to 9.1 offences per convicted thief.
Last week, it even emerged that Greggs had moved food and drink behind anti-theft counters in a bid to deter thieves.
On Monday, the shop security guards union, Security Industry Federation, told its members to “watch, report and be an expert witness for police” but not to stop criminals, reported The Times. Secretary Daniel Gardnham said: “Security workers cannot continue carrying all of the personal and professional risk while others avoid responsibility.”
.jpeg)
Sir Iain, the CSJ’s chairman, said: “Communities across Britain are suffering from a high street crime wave. Set against years of economic difficulties, there is a risk that some of our town and city centres are left permanently hollowed out.”
Sir Keir’s comments come following uproar over the sacking of a Morrisons store manager who tried to stop a shoplifter.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Sir Keir of “brazen cheek” in Monday’s speech.
He told The Independent: “Labour is giving up on shoplifting – as any shopkeeper will tell you. Labour certainly haven’t toughened up. They’ve cut overall police numbers by 1,300 in just the last year and now plan to abolish prison sentences under a year.
“That means that virtually no shoplifter will ever go to prison. This will unleash a huge further increase in shoplifting as thieves realise there will never be any real consequences under Labour.”
The Independent has approached No 10 for comment.
