Shoplifting down in pandemic, data reveals
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13th May 2021
Shoplifting offences recorded by the police decreased by 29% in the year ended December 2020, according to new figures.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show overall crime recorded by police in England and Wales fell by 8% to approximately 5.6 million offences in 2020.
The ONS said the annual reduction in crime was mostly driven by “substantial falls” between April and June when the first lockdown took place. Crime increased again from July to September as restrictions were eased and fell again as further lockdown measures were imposed in the final months of the year.