𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sadiq Khan has been slammed after shocking figures suggested shoplifting cases have soared by more than 200%. The Mayor of London’s political opponents demanded he acts swiftly to plug a £260million blackhole in the Met Police‘s finances to help end the scourge of retail crime in the capital.

Luke Taylor MP, the Lib-Dems‘ spokesperson for London, said: “It is unacceptable that the hardworking people in our local stores are being left to fend for themselves. Our independent businesses are already fighting to survive rising costs and business rates, they shouldn’t have to worry about shoplifting too.”

The party said its analysis of official figures showed shoplifting cases in the capital have more than doubled in the last five years. Data from the House of Commons Library also showed there were 93,626 reports of shoplifting made to Scotland Yard in 2024-25, up from 31,008 in 2020-21.

Of these, only 6,088 (6.5%) led to charges, which the Lib-Dems said is the lowest rate for any police force in the country.

Criticism of London’s Labour mayor comes after the boss of Marks & Spencer called on Sir Sadiq to provide more support for the police. Thinus Keeve said retail crime was “getting worse, not better” with staff facing abuse and violence everyday.

His remarks followed reports that mobs of youths had rampaged through the streets of Clapham, south London, many of whom had piled into an M&S store.

The Lib-Dems urged Sir Sadiq to get the Labour government to plug an “enormous” funding gap in Scotland Yard’s budget.

Lib-Dems also want guaranteed staffing at police desks across London and “more bobbies on the beat”, arguing doing so would rebuild public confidence.

Mr Taylor said: “London is a city of brilliant shopkeepers – and these shocking numbers remind us that Sadiq Khan’s failure to get more funding for policing is hitting them hard.

“He promised us that he would be able to get more funds from a Labour Government for vital services, but by some estimates there are 2,503 fewer police officers in London today than there were in May 2024.

“That’s fewer officers to walk our streets and deal with the crimes that blight lives and livelihoods like shoplifting.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Met police is taking a tough, targeted approach to tackling shoplifting in London.”

They added: The Met’s recent Operation Zoridon was the largest ever targeted crackdown on organised shoplifting gangs in London, which resulted in the arrest of 32 people and the seizure of thousands of stolen items.

“Funding from City Hall has also placed a renewed focus on neighbourhood policing, which has helped to double the number of officers in the West End and to put an extra 90 officers in hotspot areas to tackle antisocial behaviour, thefts, phone robbery and shoplifting.”

The spokesperson said progress is being made to crack down on shoplifting, but more needs to be done, adding: “That’s why the Mayor will continue to work with the Met to tackle this issue as we build a safer London for everyone.”

A Met Police spokesperson said retail crime is a top priority for the force. They added that last year officers solved almost double the number of shoplifting cases and made almost 50% more arrests.

The spokesperson said: “These results reflect our relentless approach, the effective use of technology such as facial recognition, and close collaboration with retailers – who are vital partners in helping us identify and pursue the repeat offenders causing fear and harm to retail workers and communities.”

Met Police figures show reported offences in London falling by 3.4% between April 1, 2025, and March 31 compared with the same period the previous year. This equals 3,200 fewer victims of the crime.

Arrests rose by 1,800 last year, which the Met said amounts to a 44% increase on 2024.