A total of 5,660 cases were recorded last year, up from 2,533 cases in 2020/21, a shocking increase of 123.45%. Just 23.52% of shoplifting cases recorded by North Yorkshire police in 2024/25 resulted in a charge.
Tom Gordon MP has said small businesses ‘simply cannot afford for this to continue’ and are calling for a return to community policing with dedicated police counters.
The number of shoplifting cases in Harrogate and Knaresborough has surged in the past five years, whilst just 23.52% of cases recorded by North Yorkshire police resulted in a charge, according to House of Commons Library data analysed by the Liberal Democrats.
Tom Gordon is calling for a return to genuine community policing and has said the Government should make a ‘Police Counter Promise’, which would guarantee a staffed police desk in communities across Harrogate and Knaresborough. The Liberal Democrats say a visible police presence would rebuild public confidence that local crime was taken seriously.
Shoplifting in Harrogate and Knaresborough has skyrocketed in the past five years, with 5,660 cases recorded by North Yorkshire police last year, up a staggering 123.45% since 2020/21. While the local force has increased efforts to deter and convict shoplifters, cases reported to North Yorkshire police just 23.52% resulted in a charge last year.
The Lib Dems have also raised concerns that shoplifting is particularly hitting small businesses on our high streets here in Harrogate and Knaresborough who are already under mounting pressure from rising energy bills, unfair business rates and extra costs from the Chancellor’s National Insurance Contribution rise. Tom Gordon has called for a 5p VAT cut for our hospitality businesses and urgent reform of the business rates system to breathe life back into our high streets.
Tom said:
Our high streets are the lifeblood of Harrogate and Knaresborough, yet local businesses are struggling with a surge in shoplifting that treats our local shops like easy targets. Our local force has upped their efforts despite the years of Conservative cuts to community policing, followed by Labour’s failure to fix the damage.
It is unacceptable that the hardworking people in our local stores are being left to fend for themselves. Our independent businesses are already fighting to survive rising costs and business rates; they shouldn’t have to worry about shoplifting too.
We need more than just promises, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to real neighbourhood policing, with bobbies on the beat and dedicated police counters right here in town, so that our fantastic local shoppers and shopkeepers are kept safe.
