Shoplifting in London rose sharply in 2024, with offences increasing by 54% compared to 2023, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Almost 90,000 shoplifting incidents were recorded across the capital last year, up from around 58,000 the previous year, highlighting a significant surge in retail crime.
In contrast, shoplifting offences across the rest of England, excluding London, grew by 15% over the same period.
Sadiq Khan responds to crime figures
A spokesperson for London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said the mayor remains “determined to do all he can to tackle crime and its complex causes,” while acknowledging that “there is clearly still more work to do” to address shoplifting and related offences. Sir Sadiq previously attributed the higher shoplifting rates partly to London having “a lot of shops” compared to other regions, coupled with the capital’s high cost of living.
Theft and crime trends across London
The ONS data also showed that theft from the person increased in London by 41% during 2024. Meanwhile, in the rest of England excluding the capital, theft from the person decreased by 14%, and in Greater Manchester, it fell even further by 28%.
However, some crime categories in London saw improvements. Offences involving possession of weapons dropped by 20%, violence with injury fell by 15%, and stalking and harassment declined by 10%.
Despite these reductions, London continues to account for almost one-third of knife crime incidents across England, with a knife-related crime occurring roughly every 30 minutes in the city.
Investment in police resources
The mayor’s office highlighted progress made in reducing serious crimes such as youth knife injuries, homicides, gun crime, and burglary since 2016. A spokesperson emphasized that “Londoners are now less likely to suffer violence resulting in injury than those across the rest of England and Wales.”
To further combat crime, Sir Sadiq Khan recently announced a record £1.16 billion investment in the Metropolitan Police Service, aimed at preserving 935 neighbourhood police officer roles and boosting police visibility on London’s high streets.
