Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Small shop owners demand action on rising shoplifting menace

The Federation of Independent Retailers has urged the government to take action

Small shop owners demand action on rising shoplifting menace

SMALL SHOP owners across the UK are voicing growing concerns over an alarming increase in shoplifting incidents, with many citing a lack of police response and a rising sense of impunity among criminals as the root causes of the issue, reported the BBC.

Benedict Selvaratnam, a convenience store owner in south London, reports witnessing up to nine shoplifting incidents in a day, often accompanied by brazen and aggressive behaviour from perpetrators.


Selvaratnam, who has operated his family business, Freshfields Market in Croydon, for eight years, has seen a significant surge in shoplifting in the past year.

Perpetrators of these thefts range from mothers concealing products in prams to pensioners, children, teenagers on bicycles, and even organised gangs engaging in theft-to-order schemes for items like coffee, honey, and meats.

The situation has escalated to the point where Selvaratnam's staff regularly face verbal and physical abuse. In recent incidents, one employee was hospitalised after being struck in the head with an iron nail, while another was attacked with a sugar cane stick. Several female staff members have left their jobs due to safety concerns.

The Federation of Independent Retailers, which represents 10,000 shopkeepers, is calling for government help to tackle the problem.

It urged the government to provide independent shops with a one-off grant of £1,500 to enhance security measures. They argue that smaller retailers lack the financial resources of larger supermarkets to invest in security infrastructure.

To address safety concerns, security measures have been enhanced at Freshfields Market, including the installation of a protective glass screen and 34 CCTV cameras inside the store, along with 12 more outside. However, Selvaratnam contends that these measures are insufficient to deter criminals.

One major issue contributing to this escalating problem, according to Selvaratnam, is the belief among shoplifters that the police are unlikely to respond to calls for assistance. He believes this emboldens criminals and encourages others to follow suit.

The Metropolitan Police, responding to these concerns, noted that it is not always feasible for them to respond to every shoplifting case due to high demand but stated they would dispatch officers "where appropriate."

The Met is actively collaborating with London shops to enhance shoplifting reporting mechanisms.

Dame Sharon White, CEO of John Lewis, characterised the surge in shoplifting over the past year as an "epidemic." Data from the British Retail Consortium supports this, with retail thefts in England and Wales increased by 26 per cent in 2022.

The BRC's crime survey also reveals a rise in violence towards shop staff, including threats with weapons and physical assaults.

In response, a group of 10 major retailers, including John Lewis, is funding Project Pegasus, a police initiative designed to crack down on shoplifting.

This £600,000 project will utilise CCTV images and shop data to identify prolific offenders, contributing to the creation of a national shoplifting database. Policing inister Chris Philp emphasised that the scheme will benefit all retailers in identifying criminal gangs.

Other major retailers such as Tesco, Co-op, and Iceland are heavily investing in anti-theft measures, including the expanded use of security tags and outfitting staff with body cameras. Waitrose and John Lewis are even offering free hot drinks to on-duty officers to boost police presence in their stores.

However, for small businesses like Benedict Selvaratnam's Freshfields Market, offering such incentives to police officers is financially challenging. Selvaratnam revealed that he has contemplated selling the store, but offers received thus far have not covered the investments he has made in security measures.

More For You

modi-trump-getty
Modi shakes hands with Trump before a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 25, 2020. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

Indian exporters watch closely as Trump says trade deal with India likely

THE US could reach a trade deal with India that would help American companies compete more easily in the Indian market and reduce tariff rates, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday. However, he cast doubt on a similar deal with Japan.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he believed India was ready to lower trade barriers, potentially paving the way for an agreement that would avoid the 26 per cent tariff rate he had announced on April 2 and paused until July 9.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

INDIAN footwear sellers and artisans are tapping into nationalist pride stoked by the Prada 'sandal scandal' in a bid to boost sales of ethnic slippers with history dating back to the 12th century, raising hopes of reviving a struggling craft.

Sales are surging over the past week for the 'Kolhapuri' sandals that have garnered global attention after Prada sparked a controversy by showcasing similar designs in Milan, without initially crediting the footwear's origins.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK business district
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
Getty Images

Economy grew 0.7 per cent in Q1 2025, fastest in a year

THE UK economy expanded at its fastest pace in a year during the first quarter of 2025, driven by a rise in home purchases ahead of a tax deadline and higher manufacturing output before the introduction of new US import tariffs.

Gross domestic product rose by 0.7 per cent in the January-to-March period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, confirming its earlier estimate. This was the strongest quarterly growth since the first quarter of 2024.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty
Trump shakes hands with Modi during a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 25, 2020. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

Key issues in India, US trade talks

TRADE talks between India and the US have hit a roadblock over disagreements on duties for auto components, steel and farm goods, Indian government sources said to Reuters, dashing hopes of reaching an interim deal ahead of president Donald Trump's July 9 deadline to impose reciprocal tariffs.

Here are the key issues at play:

Keep ReadingShow less
Anil Agarwal

Vedanta Resources, which is based in the UK and owned by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, has been working on reducing its debt. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources signs £438 million refinancing deal

VEDANTA LTD said on Thursday that its parent company, Vedanta Resources, has signed a loan facility agreement worth up to £438 million with international banks to refinance existing debt.

The refinancing move, where old loans are replaced by new ones, often at better terms like lower interest rates, has led ratings agencies such as S&P Global Ratings and Moody's to upgrade their outlook on the company this year.

Keep ReadingShow less