As retail crime continues to spiral out of control, GB News asks its members if "zero tolerance" instant jail sentences are the only way to tackle the shoplifting epidemic.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Annual Crime Survey shows more than 2,000 incidents every day.

Incidents, including racial and sexual abuse, physical assault and threats with weapons, have reached three times the level they were in 2020.

There have been around 70 incidents every day involving a weapon in the last year, double the number compared to 2024. 

Theft offences, standing at just 55,000 a day, is even estimated to cost retailers around £2.2billion.

Are ‘zero tolerance’ instant jail sentences the only way to stop the shoplifting epidemic? Vote in our poll and have your say in the comments section below{ai:summary}<p>Retail crime in the UK is escalating, with over 2,000 incidents reported daily, according to the British Retail Consortium's Annual Crime Survey. Violent incidents, including assaults and threats with weapons, have tripled since 2020, while theft costs retailers approximately £2.2 billion annually.</p><p>As a response, GB News is questioning whether "zero tolerance" policies with instant jail sentences might be necessary to address the growing shoplifting crisis. The situation has become dire, with around 70 weapon-related incidents occurring each day. #crime</p>

POLL OF THE DAY: Are ‘zero tolerance’ instant jail sentences the only way to stop the shoplifting epidemic? VOTE NOW

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