Myth of £200 shoplifting limit busted by Herts PCC

PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards asked Herts Chief Constable Charlie Hall about the misconception during his new monthly public webinar 'Accountability and Performance' meetings.

He raised the topic as he was concerned public confidence in the Constabulary’s ability to tackle the crime was being damaged by the belief that thieves could get away with stealing lower value goods.

The Herts Commissioner was given a categorical assurance there was no lower limit for the police to investigate shoplifting.

Hertfordshire Chief Constable Charlie Hall and Jonathan Ash-Edwards, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire (Image: Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire)

Evidence presented in the meeting also showed that all of the last ten shoplifting cases Hertfordshire Constabulary sent for prosecution were for values under £200 — with four being below £50.

During the meeting, Mr Ash-Edwards said: “A really common public view around shoplifting is that policing doesn't investigate and doesn't deal with it if the value is under £200 of value.

"Is that the case in Hertfordshire or is that a public myth?”

Chief Constable Hall replied: “It is a complete public myth and is categorically not true. We have no policy around a £200 limit and we're not going to.

"We are charging and putting before the court people who have committed shoplifting well below the £200 figure.”

Addressing the national and local rise in shoplifting, Mr Ash-Edwards said: “It's an area that a lot of shop workers are concerned about because the impact it has on their work and their safety. What is the Constabulary's approach to tackling shoplifting and retail crime?”

Mr Hall replied: “We recognise that shop theft has been a local and national issue which has grown in the last few years.

"Offenders generally fall into one of three categories. There is the complete opportunist, there are those who are more prolific in the local community, often with a habit to fund, and there is a smaller number of organised crime groups which travel around the country and undertake shoplifting on a very significant basis. We have procedures in place to address each of those in in different ways.”

Following the meeting, Mr Ash-Edwards said: “It has become commonly believed in the media and amongst some businesses and residents that policing won’t respond to reports of lower value shoplifting under £200.

"I am very pleased to have received the Chief Constable’s assurance that this is completely untrue in Hertfordshire. In fact, some of the most recent charges brought by the Constabulary are for low value thefts.

“Thriving town and village centres are essential to Hertfordshire’s economy. Retailers shouldn’t have to put up with thefts and retail workers must be able to do their jobs safely.

"I want the message to get out there that the police in Hertfordshire will take robust action against those who are committing shop theft at all levels.”

The Accountability & Performance Meetings were introduced last month by the PCC to hold the Chief Constable to account for the performance of Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Held monthly at Herts Police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City, they are broadcast online for the public to view live.

Recordings of the meetings are available to watch back, along with dates of future meetings, at hertscommissioner.org/apm.

The next meeting is due to be held on Tuesday, September 17.