Former Spalding police officer calls for tougher sentences for shoplifters as Grantham is shown to be a hotspot in Lincolnshire
Nearly 2,000 shoplifting arrests were made in Lincolnshire during a 12 month period - but a former town sergeant feels the real number of offences is far higher as many incidents are not reported.
Lincolnshire Police has revealed, in a Freedom of Information request submitted by this website, that officers made 1,818 arrests for shoplifting offences between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
But Spalding Shopwatch co-ordinator Stuart Brotherton feels that this is not an accurate reflection of the real problem and is urging traders to report every offence.
While the national spotlight has been placed on this problem, Mr Brotherton has been calling for change in how shoplifters have been sentenced for some time and says the Spalding based offenders have ‘entrenched’ drug and alcohol problems.
He said: “There is so much under reporting that goes on so we are never going to get a true reflection.
“Shops think ‘what is the point’ due to the sentencing of individuals so there is a lot of dismay from shops and business who feel they are getting a raw deal.
“ I would say for a lot of them (offenders) it’s to steal to get money for drugs and alcohol - that is the vicious circle we are in.
“These people are not getting sentenced. They are getting repeatedly slaps on the wrist and then go out and re-offend - that is one of the biggest things. This country had got to get it sorted out.
“Shop thefts are not going to go away but we can make a big dent in it by making things harder.”
He said the country should look at other ways to deal with serial shoplifters who have ‘repeatedly failed’ after being given opportunities to work with addiction agencies on their problems should
“We are missing a trick - what about community sentences? What about putting these people to work on the streets and putting something back into society.”
Figures released within our Freedom of Information request have revealed that Lincoln has the highest number of reported shoplifting offences during the last financial year.
The city had 2,447 incidents reported with 759 in Boston, 596 in Grantham, 531 in Gainsborough and 421 in Skegness.
And it was Lincoln businesses which have been hit worse by shoplifters within the 12 month period.
Lincolnshire Police have revealed that 1,497 reported incidents of shoplifting occurred at Co-op stores in Lincoln followed by Tesco (601 occurrences). Other Lincoln businesses that were hit include Sainsbury’s (303) and Boots (203).
Gainsborough’s B&M store is the only one outside of the city which has high levels of reported thefts with 339 in the last financial year.
‘Household articles’, alcohol, personal accessories, chemicals solvents and accelerants and personal communication devices are the top five goods which are regularly stolen in the county.
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said: “Shoplifting is a priority for the force. Lincolnshire Police has a Business and Retail Crime Strategic Lead and tactical leads on each side of the county. As such, we are linked in with the National Business Crime Centre and in so doing continue to focus on implementing the National Retail crime action published by the last Government in October 2023.”
Actions include improving attendance at the scenes of retail crime, targeting prolific offenders, and identifying ‘hotspot areas’.
The spokesman added: “Lincolnshire Police’s Retail and Business Crime Lead is committed to readdressing the issue of retail and business crime with respect to attendance and prioritising offences. Working with retailers across the county the hope is to increase confidence in the police response and to positively deal with repeat offenders and those who verbally or physically abuse retail staff.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Shoplifting is at record high. This cannot go on, we are going to bring back neighbourhood policing, ensuring thousands of additional officers are out patrolling streets in our mission to make our streets safe.
“We will introduce a new specific offence for assaults against retail workers, ensuring they are protected from abuse and violence.”
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