'Time to get tough on shop crime'

Shopkeepers have spoken out as new figures demonstrate an increase in thefts - but could Hanley show the way to reduce instances?

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INDEPENDENT retailers say the latest crime figures highlight a 'drastic need' for the police and courts to get tougher on shoplifters.

The Office of National Statistics revealed that reported incidents of shoplifting increased by 20 per cent to 530,643 offences across the country last year - the highest figure since current police recording practices began.

It comes after The Sentinel reported on Tuesday how targeted police patrols have seen a major reduction in shoplifting across Stoke-on-Trent's city centre

Figures released by Staffordshire Police have revealed the number of reported shoplifting offences in Hanley has decreased by more than 33 percent in the last 12 months. Since August last year, the number of reported shoplifting offences has decreased from 48 to 11 this month.