The Office of National Statistics has said shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales have risen to the highest level since current data began in 2003.

A total of 430,104 offences were logged by forces last year, up more than a third (37 per cent) on the 315,040 recorded in the previous 12 months to December 2022.

The data published today, Thursday, comes after major retailers raised concerns about the rising cost of theft.

The figures also show the number of offences involving theft from the person stood at 125,563 in 2023, up 18 per cent from 106,606 in 2022 and is the highest level since 2004 (137,154).

There has been concern from major retailers about the cost of shoplifting

Nick Stripe, from the ONS, said: "In the past 12 months, police recorded crime shows notable increases in robbery, theft from the person and shoplifting.

"The latter has risen by more than 100,000 offences, while the police have been dealing with the highest levels of theft from the person offences recorded in two decades."

It comes as shoplifting is estimated to cost London £9.2 million every month, with new figures showing a 48 per cent spike in offences, reports Evening Standard.

City Hall police and crime spokesman for the Liberal Democrats Caroline Pidgeon said: "The increase in shoplifting across London is unacceptable."

Caroline Pidgeon said the shoplifting situation in London is 'unacceptable'

She added: "The Met commissioner and [Mayor] Sadiq Khan need to get to grips with a problem that is quickly becoming endemic. The fact that the rate of shoplifting has risen so much in London compared to the rest of the country is a real concern."