23 October 2025
Bira has said the latest Office for National Statistics figures showing a 13% increase in shoplifting offences to 529,994 incidents confirm the retail crime crisis that independent retailers across Britain have been experiencing daily.
Bira said the investment in local communities would help its members take pride in their shops and high streets, following years of calling for more targeted investment based on local needs.
Whilst overall theft offences recorded by police have decreased by 4%, the sharp 13% rise in shoplifting - alongside a 5% increase in theft from the person to 145,860 offences - demonstrates that retail crime continues to surge. These sharp rises since the pandemic show no sign of abating.
However, Bira's own crime survey shows the vast majority of crimes now go unreported - 91% of physical abuse incidents and 47% of thefts - because retailers have lost faith in police response. When incidents are reported, only 16.7% lead to prosecution. This means that Bira believes the true scale of retail crime is far greater than even the official ONS figures suggest, with repeat offenders accounting for nearly 70% of incidents according to Bira members.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "We welcome the Government's commitment to 3,000 additional neighbourhood officers by March 2026 and the Crime and Policing Bill measures, including ending the £200 theft loophole and creating a new offence for assaulting retail workers. However, we urge swift implementation of the Government's Winter of Action - the renewed focus on tackling shop theft in town centres following the summer crime blitz - and call for consistent police response standards across all forces.
"We would also like to see greater use of community behaviour orders (CBOs) in order to deal with the perennial offenders. Independent retailers are the backbone of our high streets and need visible support now to protect their businesses, their staff, and their livelihoods."
Bira said it will continue to monitor crime figures through its bi-annual crime survey of independent retailers and will be presenting these findings to the Home Office, police forces, and policymakers across the UK, calling for sustained action to protect Britain's high streets.
Bira's advocacy takes your voice to the heart of Parliament
Bira is at the forefront of championing the cause of independent traders and shopkeepers across Britain.
Our campaigns cover a wide spectrum of issues crucial to the success of independent traders including:
- Fighting for lower business rates
- Combating the rise of retail crime
- Pushing for greater protection for business owners who are leasing their property
- Demanding more support for high street development
- Ensuring smaller retailers are not disproportionately burdened by upcoming changes in employment regulations
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