The public have been told by a police chief that they should stand up to shoplifters themselves and not rely on bobbies on the beat for help. 

Matthew Barber, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, emphasized that addressing theft is not solely a police duty and criticized bystanders for merely recording crime incidents.

Mr Barber criticised the public for being ‘part of the problem’ and encouraged shop owners to to deal with thieves themselves. 

During a June meeting of the Thames Valley police and crime panel, Barber stated: ‘If someone is currently shoplifting from your store, dial 999.’

‘Also ideally try and stop them leaving, don’t just stand there and watch, which a lot of people do, which frustrates me.’

He clarified that he didn’t mean everyone should physically confront shoplifters, but rather that community members should assume a degree of responsibility.

Barber elaborated on his views in an interview with The Telegraph, expressing worry that the UK has become a society where people generally avoid engaging in crime prevention.

He remarked: ‘Thinking it’s solely a police issue, while citizens look away and avoid involvement, contributes to a declining societal standard.’

Matthew Barber, the Conservative PCC for Thames Valley, has informed the public that they should personally confront shoplifters instead of relying solely on police officers.

The number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales has passed half a million for the first time, figures show. Pictured is a thief in action

Mr Barber emphasised that the public should not get involved in stopping a crime if it was dangerous and the police should be there but he suggested that it wasn’t ‘right’ for passers-by to watch on and ignore crime if they see it.

Kemi Badenoch said that the public need to acknowledge that police officers can’t be everywhere all the time and encouraged communities to come together and help.

The Conservative leader added that she would probably intervene if she witnessed a shoplifter because ‘That is the sort of person I am’.

The comments come as the UK continues to battle a crimewave with shoplifters terrorising high streets across the country. 

The number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales has passed half a million for the first time, figures show.

An astonishing 516,971 offences were logged by forces last year, up 20 per cent from 429,873 in 2023.

The figure is the highest since current police records began 22 year ago in 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

But rather than support the public in tackling the scourge, police are hitting out at business owners instead.

Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader, (pictured) said that the public need to acknowledge that police officers can’t be everywhere all the time and encouraged communities to help

It comes after a shop owner was left stunned when police told him to change a sign outside his business calling shoplifters ‘scumbags’ because it may be offensive.

Rob Davies, 61, who runs the Run Ragged vintage shop in Wrexham, North Wales, installed the notice to tell shoppers some cabinets were locked against theft.

The hard-working retailer put it up after he caught five thieves red-handed in the last 12 months alone and lost roughly £200 of stock to shoplifting.

He felt the police did little to help when he reported the five thefts and so he gave up doing so, instead taking matters into his own hands to protect his small business.

His handmade note reads: ‘Due to scumbags shoplifting, please ask for assistance to open cabinets.’

But to his surprise, after months of frustration with the police, officers turned up to the shop – though only to tell him to remove the sign.

On Monday it emerged that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) warned that naming and shaming suspects could ‘breach data protection’.

It comes after shop owner, Rob Davies, 61, (pictured) was told by police to change a sign outside his business calling shoplifters ‘scumbags’ because it may be offensive

Asked if it was right to display images of thieves in shop windows, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones told Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘What we do know is that shoplifting has got out of hand in the country.’ 

But she did not say whether she supported the public tackling the wave of shoplifting themselves.

On an advice page for tackling shoplifters, the ICO said stores ‘must only share personal information that’s proportionate and necessary to achieve your purpose’.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick called the advice ‘madness’ and suggested shoplifters should be ‘named and shamed’, slamming the red tape that it holding back shoplifters from being caught.