Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the National Retail Crime Steering Group plans to consider new ways to tackle the root cause of shop theft in its upcoming work plan.

As co-chair of the National Retail Crime Steering Group with the British Retail Consortium, it is part of my role to ensure that the Steering Group’s work plan reflects the retail sector’s crime priorities and that the required activity is in place to deliver it.

This includes work to reduce shoplifting alongside other crimes that impact on the retail sector. We have discussed different approaches to preventing and tackling shoplifting as part of the work of the Steering Group and this will continue to be a priority.