Struggling UK high street calls for dedicated police funding to tackle shoplifting

"Flagship" high streets, including the iconic Oxford Street in London, are under threat without immediate nationwide action on crime, a leading group of retailers has warned.

Oxford Street, once a premier shopping hub, has seen its reputation tarnished in recent years by incidents such as phone snatching and an influx of sweet shops.

High Streets UK, representing 5,000 British businesses, is demanding dedicated funding for police to safeguard major retail areas.

The organisation's membership spans business improvement districts across Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, and Newcastle.

Dee Corsi, chair of High Streets UK and chief executive of the New West End Company, emphasised: "Flagship high streets are engines of the local and national economy, drivers of tourism, and anchors for communities. But without urgent national action on crime, they are at serious risk.

"We have welcomed the Government's renewed focus on retail crime in particular.

"But we must go further and faster to tackle all types of crime affecting high streets, having a devastating effect on businesses and communities, tarnishing the UK's global reputation, and jeopardising tourism and investment."

Recent official statistics reveal that shoplifting offences recorded by the police in 2024 exceeded 500,000 for the first time.

Ms Corsi insists that it is essential for the upcoming spending review to earmark additional funds specifically for policing on key high streets.

"The UK's flagship high streets are important cultural and economic centres - with High Street UK locations generating over £50 billion in economic value every year - yet growing complex challenges around crime and anti-social behaviour put these locations at risk," she stated.

"Take London's West End - the internationally renowned home to Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street is an important driver of jobs, investment, and tourism, contributing 3% of the capital's economic activity.

"Despite this, continued underfunding of policing has left it facing real issues including anti-social behaviour, shop theft and organised business crime.

"Through the collective voice of High Streets UK, we are calling for the Government to recognise the value of these locations - as economic hubs, anchors for community, and tourism destinations - by ring-fencing dedicated police support.

"Failing to do so puts growth, and flagship high streets, at serious risk."

High Streets UK held its second quarterly meeting on Wednesday, drawing up four key points that it is urging the Government to tackle.

Ms Corsi added: "At our Safer High Streets Forum, we shared our frontline experience of the international criminal gangs, business crime, prolific offenders and anti-social behaviour affecting our high streets - none of which can be meaningfully tackled with the current systems and resources in place."

High Streets UK is demanding an increase in police presence around high streets, with performance metrics specifically for these areas.

The organisation is advocating for immediate imprisonment for those who violate criminal behaviour orders, expedited sentencing for retail-related crimes, and a focus on habitual offenders.

Furthermore, it is urging for nationwide strategies to combat organised crime impacting high streets, including begging gangs, and the establishment of a national framework for businesses to report crime.