Shoplifting epidemic adds 10p ‘crime tax’ to every transaction as minister vows end to ‘shameful neglect’ of retail crime

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A surge in shoplifting under the Conservatives has led to shoppers paying a 10p “crime tax” on every basket, businesses have warned, as a Home Office minister vowed an end to the “shameful neglect” of retail crime. open image in gallery Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson told the conference one of her constituents was punched 50 times by a customer he was trying to help Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson pointed to figures from a recent Usdaw study of 5,500 retail staff, which set out how one in five suffered a violent attack last year, more than double the figure two years ago. open image in gallery Dame Diana Johnson vowed an end to the ‘shameful neglect’ of retail crime As well as highlighting British Retail Consortium figures that showed the £1.8bn cost to shops of theft, Ms Johnson said staff are facing a “wave of abuse, threats and violence”. “With a new offence of assault of a shopworker, investment from the Treasury, by scrapping the Conservatives’ shoplifters charter, and by putting neighbourhood police officers back in our communities, back on the beat, and back in the service of the public once again.” open image in gallery Former policing minister Chris Philp called for the public to make citizens arrests against shoplifters Last year, former policing minister Chris Philp urged members of the public to step in when they see thieves shoplifting by making citizen’s arrests.