Sharp rise in shoplifting in London
Met data shows that shoplifting offences in London have increased by approximately 37 per cent in the last five months, from 6,900 in February, to 9,483 in July.1
The Met also stated that new data had “revealed a small number of prolific offenders are responsible for a significant proportion of shoplifting offences across London”,2 with 104 prolific shoplifters linked to 4,389 offences over the last two financial years. However, it took a minimum of 31 offences before each of the offenders were given a custodial sentence.
Social media is also playing a significant role in retail crime. In April, The Guardian reported that the Met responded to reports of antisocial behaviour involving a group of “several hundred young people” in Clapham High Street, south London, as part of “link-ups” using social media apps, including TikTok and Snapchat.3
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will question the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the work being done to tackle shoplifting and retail crime in London.
The Committee will also ask questions on the policing of Notting Hill Carnival and specialist police roles.
Guests include:
- Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
- Kenny Bowie, Director of Strategy & MPS Oversight, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)
The meeting will take place in Committee Rooms 2&3 at City Hall on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at 10am.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- MPS, MPS Monthly Crime Dashboard Data, M1045_MonthlyCrimeDashboard_TNOCrimeData, accessed 14 September 2026
- MPS, Met and retailers urge government to fast-track justice for repeat shoplifters, 18 June 2026
- The Guardian, M&S calls for crackdown on ‘brazen, organised, aggressive’ retail crime, 3 April 2026
- Susan Hall AM, Chairman of the Police and Crime Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police and Crime Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251 727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.