Are locals concerned about the rise in shoplifting?

Many shopkeepers have resorted to policing shop lifting themselves having seen a large increase in the crime as the cost of living has risen.

Transcript

00:00In terms of shoplifting in Bristol, I haven't seen anything in particular, but where I'm

00:05from, where I commute in from, we've seen shoplifting in Stroud and places like that,

00:12but I haven't actually witnessed anything in Bristol, no.

00:16According to Avon and Somerset Police, there has been a rise in the number of shoplifting

00:21crimes. But do locals think enough is being done to stop shoplifting? Let's find out.

00:28I would like to think things are being done to help shopkeepers because it's their livelihood

00:32and when things are stolen from their shop, then that impacts on their wellbeing and their

00:39income basically.

00:40Well, I mean, I think it's something that ultimately is going to impose costs on everybody

00:45else. So, you know, apart from the general being law-abiding and so on, it has an economic

00:52impact.

00:54Office for National Statistics figures show about 12,000 shoplifting offences were recorded

01:00by Avon and Somerset Constabulary in the year of June up to 8,000 in 22. It follows a trend

01:07across England and Wales where reports of shoplifting increased by 25%.

01:13I think shoplifting is probably something which is extraordinarily challenging for shops

01:17to try and counteract. And I know people who've worked in shops who've, you know, it's impossible

01:23to ask people to confront people who might turn violent or people who are acting as gangs

01:28to distractions, robberies and that kind of thing. So it is really, really difficult.

01:33It's very difficult to know what to do.

01:34I think, I mean, sometimes it's nice when in the shop there's some security, but I think

01:47they stop people from entering the shop more than checking. But I think it's in the street

01:54as well, it's not just in the shop.