Pledge to beat the scourge of shoplifting

SHABANA Mahmood is to reveal how shoplifters stole from her family’s shop as she vows to go after criminals ruining high streets. The Home Secretary will bolster patrols and order more undercover operations across the Christmas period to help retailers. She wants more shoplifters to be arrested or fined to prevent town centres becoming even more lawless. The Daily Express revealed how social media influences are fuelling a £2.2billion shoplifting explosion with youths, middle- class workers and even pensioners encouraged to think of it as a victimless crime. Labour sources said the “Winter of Action”

- By Michael Knowles

will see police forces “working in partnership with local businesses, aiming to reach hundreds of locations”.