Shoplifting 'not a top police priority' says chief

NEW GREEN LEADER SAYS THEFT IN STORES JUSTIFIED FOR THE POOR

- By Jonathan Walker Whitehall Editor

POLICE nationwide do not see fighting the shoplifting epidemic as a top priority, the officer leading the effort to stop the thefts has admitted.

More than 1,400 such offences take place every day — but the true scale of the problem is even worse than official figures suggest.

The comments were made by Superintendent Lisa Maslen, who leads the National Business Crime

Centre, which works with forces and employers to cut business crime across the UK.

Asked if shoplifting was “a top five issue” for police commanders, she said: “I don’t think top five. I’d say top 10.”

Retailers have warned that the cost of shoplifting pushes up prices, adding 10p on average to every transaction, with 77% of shop staff saying they have been assaulted or abused.