Police boss urges public to help stop shoplifters

Matthew Barber said intervening could help society

The public should be doing more to stop shoplifting rather than just relying on the police, the Thames Valley police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said.

Conservative Matthew Barber said everyone had a "responsibility" to help if people wanted to live "in a safe, prosperous society" - but that would not necessarily involve physical intervention.

Last year, Barber said the number of charges for shoplifting offences across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire increased by 98% - from about 850 to about 1,700 - between April and mid-October 2024.

But Liberal Democrat MPs Joshua Reynolds and Freddie van Mierlo said the call was "irresponsible and dangerous".

Barber said people needed to judge situations "based on what you see in front of you".

He added: "I am not laying down some rules on this. But I encourage people to do something.

"If we want to live in a safe, prosperous society, we all have a responsibility. It's not just about some external agency coming in from outside.

"If you're in a store and you witness shoplifting happening I think at the very least you should report that to the police, report it to the staff, perhaps take some mobile phone footage, shout at someone 'put that back'.

"Some people will feel able to physically intervene but I am not encouraging everybody to be rugby tackling offenders to the ground and put themselves at risk."

'Call the police'

But Reynolds, who was elected in Maidenhead last year, said "expecting the public to do the job for the police is not the way round this should be".

He said: "When you see someone shoplifting, the right thing to do is to alert staff and call the police.

"But to expect individuals to intervene when we don't know what situation they will be putting themselves into is irresponsible, and I think could actually end up being quite dangerous."

Henley and Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo added: "Our Tory police and crime commissioner should hang his head in shame.

"No, the public should not be asked to confront criminals. It's dangerous and irresponsible.

"Please, if you're witnessing a crime or victim of one, call the police."