The Politics and Pitfalls of Policing High-Volume Crime: Responding to the Shoplifting Epidemic

It has been reported that shoplifting has reached ‘epidemic’ levels. Comparing police record crime data with industry estimates reveals that potentially just 2.4 per cent of thefts are reported to and recorded by the police. This is creating a large intelligence gap that emboldens thieves, enables organised criminal networks to go undetected, and makes it difficult for the police to prioritise retail crime and detect the most prolific and serious offenders. This article outlines some of the political issues with recording high-volume crime and the resource implications of increased reporting. The article presents the case for the development of a national retail crime intelligence bureau to improve reporting and close the intelligence gap on shoplifting.