Crime cost retailers over £1.4 bn in 2011

Shoplifting cost British retailers £840 million in 2011, according to the British Retail Consortium.

It suggests that overall retail crimes rose by a third in the past year and although the number of crimes has gone down, the average cost of each crime has gone up.

Commissioner Adrian Leppard from City of London Police told Radio 5 live Breakfast that organised crime was to blame.

Mr Leppard also explained why TV chef Anthony Worral-Thompson received a caution for shoplifting while people arrested during the riots of 2011 got prison sentences.

To hear other 5 live interviews, please visit the best bits page.

Breakfast broadcasts weekdays 0600 to 0900 on Radio 5 live.