Thames Valley’s police boss has hit back at Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he said some people in poverty may have no option but to shoplift.
Thames Valley’s police chief has responded to Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he suggested that poverty might force some people to shoplift. Polanski, 42, stated on the BBC that Britain is ‘criminalising poverty and inequality,’ and admitted he might consider stealing if he struggled to provide for his family.
However, Matthew Barber, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley, dismissed these comments as ‘complete nonsense,’ affirming that shoplifting is theft. Speaking at a Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel meeting, he highlighted that many view shop theft as a victimless crime, but shop staff often suffer as a result.
Barber remarked, “There’s an attitude out there that it’s not their problem, viewing major retailers as corporations that can absorb the losses.” He directly challenged Polanski’s remarks, asserting that theft is not justified by financial hardship. Barber emphasised the need for a shift in public attitudes towards shoplifting, stating, “Many people seem to see it as a victimless crime.”
His comments come as shoplifting incidents hit a record 530,643 offences reported to police in the year to March, a 20% increase from the previous year. This equates to over 10,000 thefts weekly, marking the highest level since records began in 2003. In the 2023/24 period, shoplifting cost UK retailers £2.2 billion, escalating to £4.2 billion when including crime prevention costs.
Nathaniel Lawson, Local Democracy Reporter
