More than 200,000 shoplifting instances went unsolved over the area of 12 months, the Liberal Democrats have concluded from evaluation of official figures.
The occasion, which studied statistics for England and Wales, says the federal government is “totally falling” to deal with a “growing crime epidemic”.
A Home Office spokeswoman mentioned charging charges for shoplifting are up by “almost a third” previously yr.
According to the figures, 205,676 shoplifting instances had been closed with no suspect being recognized within the yr to July.
About 15% of 362,809 instances had been mentioned to have resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed.
Craig Beaumont, from the Federation of Small Businesses, mentioned it’s “disheartening” to see “under-pressure local small and independent businesses lose their hard-earned money”.
“The lack of police investigation and prosecution of those perpetrating these crimes is one factor behind the increasing number of our members saying they’ve been hit by organised shoplifting and threatening behaviour to their staff,” he added.
Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, mentioned retail crime has a “damaging impact” and mentioned officers are “committed to tackling offenders and supporting retailers”.
“Organised crime is of course only part of the problem and we continue to target those prolific and habitual offenders whose behaviour causes misery and takes profit from our communities and retailers,” she mentioned.
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Alistair Carmichael, the Lib Dem residence affairs spokesman, mentioned: “As unsolved shoplifting soars across the country, organised criminal gangs are being let off the hook while shopkeepers are left vulnerable.
“Yet once more, this Conservative authorities is completely failing to deal with a rising crime epidemic.
“We already know what works to stop crime – it’s not taskforces and gimmicks, it’s putting police back on the beat and ensuring that crimes are properly investigated.”
A Home Office spokeswoman mentioned: “In the last year, charging rates for shoplifting offences are up by almost a third.
“Shoplifting is a blight on our communities and the policing minister has made clear that police needs to be taking a zero-tolerance method to this crime.”
Source: information.sky.com”