Long-standing Fed member tells BBC that shoplifting “epidemic” continues

(Stephen Tate, photo courtesy of the BBC). 

Experienced Fed member, Stephen Tate – who is based in Stockton-upon-Tees in the Northeast of England – has told the BBC that shoplifting continues at unacceptably high levels, despite a recent levelling off in reported retail crime and explained the steps he is forced to take to protect his stock from theft.

Speaking to the BBC in an interview arranged by the Fed, he said: “Once or twice a year we’re throwing people out, your average stock disappearing – that happens quite a lot”. He also spoke about an occasion where he caught someone with six jars of coffee down their trousers and his partner grabbed the individual before calling the police”.  He also said “ I’m not going to let you walk out of here with half a dozen chocolate bars if I can stop you, and if that means throwing you out of the shop, well, I’ll do that.”

Recent government statistics indicated theft and harassment of shop owners had dipped slightly but remained stubbornly high with many offences underreported. In figures the Fed highlighted to the BBC on Mr Tate’s behalf, Cleveland Police, which covers Stockton, had the biggest increase in shoplifting offences between 2025-26, with a rise of 14.9% from 8,326 to 9,568. The overall incidence of theft  at 15.9 offences were 1,000 people, was the second highest surveyed, only behind City of London in England and Wales.

Earlier in the year, Mr Tate raised his concerns directly in a meeting with his local Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Matt Storey. The Fed continues to engage with Cleveland Police as well as other Police teams across the whole of the UK and Ireland to raise similar concerns of Fed members. During February’s meeting, Mr Storey acknowledged the challenge and said: “Tackling business and retail crime cannot be solved by policing alone, and I was pleased to develop our broader partnership approach by speaking with the Fed’s team, and to learn more about the issues from a business perspective as part of my engagement work.”

At a national level, the Fed is continuing to work with the Home Office to call on greater measures to enhance Police resourcing and raised this point in recent days in correspondence with the Treasury ahead of the Budget. Meanwhile, the Fed has recently written to the Secretary of State for Justice about ensuring that deterrents and rehabilitation options are in place to ensure that recurrent thieves do not repeatedly target neighbourhood businesses.

If you are a Fed member and would like to share similar concerns about retail crime or High Street rogue trade, please get in touch with our Political Engagement Coordinator: douglas.oliver@nfrn.org.uk