Police in England and Wales to target 500 chronic shoplifters in new retail crackdown

Five hundred of the most prolific shoplifters across England and Wales are being targeted in a major police crackdown backed by 2.5 million pounds in government funding. Up to 17 police forces will use tactics such as criminal behaviour orders, GPS tagging, and intensive supervision courts to secure stronger sentences and restrict offenders from town centres. The initiative aims to replicate the success of previous localized operations and address a surge in retail crime, which reached over half a million recorded offences in 2024. Officials and industry leaders stress that a small number of repeat offenders are responsible for a disproportionate amount of theft, causing severe financial losses and leaving retail workers fearful.