ACS has welcomed a fall in the official number of shop thefts recorded by the police over the last year.
The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, published today (23rd July 2026) by the Office for National Statistics, has shown that in the 12 months to March 2026, there were 507,086 recorded shop theft offences compared to 530,324 in the previous year.
Figures from the 2026 ACS Crime Report show that there were over 5.8million incidents of theft recorded by convenience retailers alone over the last year, highlighting the continued significant gap between what is happening on the ground and what is being recorded by forces.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Ed Woodall said: “Tackling theft, abuse, robbery and other retail crime remains is a top priority for local shops, with over half a billion pounds spent in the last two years on crime prevention and detection measures. The official figures continue to highlight the challenges facing convenience stores, but we welcome significant positive steps that have been made throughout the last year on increasing the visibility and accessibility of police forces in communities.
"We must continue to focus on making it as straightforward as possible for retailers to report crime, for incidents to be responded to swiftly, and for interventions to be targeted at breaking the cycle of reoffending that blights communities across the country."
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said: “Shop theft has now fallen for a second consecutive period – dropping 4% in just the last year. Charges are up 19% in the last year alone, and almost one in four shop theft offences now lead to a charge.
“After years of neglect, we are making a difference. This is what happens when retail crime is finally treated with the seriousness it deserves."
