The Metropolitan Police has identified 104 repeat shoplifters as being responsible for more than 5,300 crimes in London over the past two years. Each of these individuals broke the law at least 31 times before being jailed, with shoplifting offences making up around a third of cases in London where a suspect has been identified.
The Met, along with the British Retail Consortium and Retail Trust, has written to the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to call for fast-track courts so repeat offenders appear within 72 hours of charge. They also want a clearer escalation system for people who keep breaching criminal behaviour orders, and more consistent enforcement of these orders.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said neighbourhood officers are using new technology to quickly identify and arrest 'the small number of offenders responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime'. He added, 'We are still seeing the same individuals come back again and again - that shows the system needs to change.'
Helen Dickinson from the British Retail Consortium stated, 'Too many offenders still face little meaningful consequence.' According to figures from the Met's crime data website, in the year to May 2025, 6.8% of shoplifting cases had a resolution, while in the year to May 2026, 14.3% of offences had a positive outcome.