The London Assembly will today question the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime over a sharp rise in shoplifting across the capital.
Met data shows that shoplifting offences in London have increased by approximately 37 per cent in the last five months, from 6,900 in February to 9,483 in July, according to City Hall.
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will put questions to Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, and Kenny Bowie, Director of Strategy and MPS Oversight at the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), on the work being done to tackle shoplifting and retail crime.
The Met has said new data has revealed that a small number of prolific offenders are responsible for a significant proportion of shoplifting offences across London, with 104 prolific shoplifters linked to 4,389 offences over the last two financial years. However, it took a minimum of 31 offences before each of the offenders was given a custodial sentence.
The committee will also hear about the role of social media in retail crime. In April, The Guardian reported that the Met responded to reports of antisocial behaviour involving a group of “several hundred young people” in Clapham High Street, south London, as part of “link-ups” organised through social media apps including TikTok and Snapchat.
The session will also cover the policing of Notting Hill Carnival and specialist police roles.
The meeting takes place in Committee Rooms 2&3 at City Hall on Wednesday 23 September at 10am. Members of the public and media are invited to attend, and it can also be viewed live or later via webcast and YouTube.
Reporting based on: London Assembly: “Sharp rise in shoplifting in London”, updated 22 September 2026
