Coppers for Cops: Shoplifting crackdown amounts to just 8p per offence

The Liberal Democrats have slammed the government's 'coppers for cops' approach, as ministers announced they will be providing just 8p of new funding per shoplifting offence as part of new plans to tackle the crime.

The government is contributing just £30,000 towards a new police unit to tackle the gangs behind shoplifting. There were 365,164 shoplifting offences recorded by police last year, meaning the new funding equates to just 8.2p per offence.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael MP said:

“Suella Braverman’s coppers for cops approach is frankly pathetic.

“Conservative ministers have taken thousands of community officers off the streets, now they’re offering chump change towards tackling this theft epidemic.

“Instead of yet more gimmicks that are bound to fail, the Home Secretary needs to invest in proper community policing and ensure crimes are investigated. The government's current failed approach is letting organised criminal gangs off the hook and leaving shopkeepers vulnerable.”

ENDS