UK Politics

[Phylo]

LAWLESS LABOUR​

Thousands of the UK's most prolific shoplifters are 'set to avoid jail under Labour plans' - as stores brace for more mob chaos and supermarket chief calls for guards to be given pepper spray and truncheons​

Thousands of Britain's most prolific shoplifters could avoid prison under new Labour plans, with retailers warning of potential chaos and supermarket bosses calling for security staff to be equipped with pepper spray.

The new laws, which scrap most prison sentences of under one year, could allow up to 12,000 repeat offenders to avoid jail.

The changes stem from the Sentencing Act introduced last year, which restricts magistrates and judges to imposing one-year prison terms only in 'exceptional circumstances.'

According to Ministry of Justice data, 98 per cent of shoplifters currently in prison would be eligible for alternative 'community punishments' under the new system.

This is despite shoplifting offences in England and Wales rising by five per cent in the year to September 2025, reaching 519,381, as per the latest ONS figures.

Levels remain just below the record 530,439 offences recorded in the year to March 2025.

The law, which came into force last month, was introduced to ease overcrowding in prisons. However, it has raised concerns that removing a strong deterrent could lead to a rise in shoplifting.

Lord Walker of Broxton, executive chairman of Iceland, said that 'just one incident of violence against my staff is too many,' pointing to the example of armed security guards in Spain to tackle rising retail crime.

Thousands of shoplifters are 'set to avoid jail under Labour plans'

The new laws, which scrap most prison sentences of under one year, could allow up to 12,000 repeat offenders to avoid jail.

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Why Reform are already getting the 'jitters' about the local elections... as Nigel Farage's party dips in the polls with five weeks to go: ANDREW PIERCE​

Almost ten years after he died at 53, the singer George Michael remains a much-loved figure to millions. But to Lord (Malcolm) Offord, chairman of Reform UK in Scotland, the pop legend and his surviving partner Fadi Fawaz were fair game for bigotry.

Back in 2018, the peer cracked an unprintably crude and homophobic joke at the couple's expense at a Burns Night dinner - and the resurfacing of the footage last week drew explosive condemnation.

A joke's a joke, of course - and the row will blow over. After all, a fascinating poll last month revealed that Reform are by far the most popular party among 'gay and bisexual' British men, with 25 per cent of them intending to vote for Nigel Farage - 6 per cent ahead of the Greens and 7 per cent more than Labour. As Darren Grimes, a prominent Reform councillor, quipped: 'Reform UK has more gays in it than Heaven nightclub.'

The striking polling - partly explained, I understand, by the concern many gay people feel at the rise of militant Islamist sectarianism in Britain - offers a useful glimpse into the unlikely coalition Farage is trying to assemble as he prepares for next month's critical local elections.

And on that score, I'm told, there is mounting nervousness within the ranks. One senior figure admits to me there are 'jitters' inside Reform's offices in Millbank Tower (New Labour's former riverside bastion) ahead of the May 7 ballot.

After winning 15 per cent of the vote in the 2024 General Election, Reform soared to 35 per cent in the polls as recently as last September - a mighty 15-point lead over Labour.

Farage was on course to seize 343 seats at the next General Election, comfortably above the 326 he needs for an overall majority. After defections, he now boasts eight MPs.

But since November, the party's support has been sinking. Reform are averaging 26 per cent in the polls, with one YouGov survey last week putting them on just 23 per cent.

Why Reform are getting the local elections 'jitters': ANDREW PIERCE

Back in 2018, the peer cracked an unprintably crude and homophobic joke at the couple's expense at a Burns Night dinner and the resurfacing of the footage last week drew condemnation.

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