Retired Cop's Risky Crusade Against Shoplifters Exposes Policing Crisis

In the year leading up to August 2025, shoplifting cases in the UK surged by a staggering 20%, reaching over 530,000 nationwide. This alarming trend has exposed a growing policing crisis, as forces are accused of neglecting "petty" crimes for years, leaving the public to fend for themselves.

One retired police officer, with 31 years of experience, has taken matters into his own hands, making 32 citizen's arrests of shoplifters since leaving the force. However, his crusade has not been without risk - he has faced assault, fines, and even a black eye for his efforts. The article highlights how the core principles of community policing, where officers engage, reassure, and challenge wrongdoing, have almost entirely vanished in the past decade.

Frustrated by the lack of police response, the public is now being urged to step up and fill the gaps in policing. But as the retired officer's experience shows, this can be a dangerous proposition, with the risk of verbal abuse, assault, and even being stabbed. The article argues that the authorities need to take drastic action to regain control of the streets, including a massive overhaul of the way offenders are treated and a modernization of the retail security industry.