Police restrict use of derogatory term 'scumbags' for shoplifters
In a notable shift, UK authorities are focusing more on policing online speech, particularly on social media, rather than traditional street-level crimes such as shoplifting. This change, driven by recent government initiatives, has sparked a heated debate among critics who argue that this focus is a diversion from addressing rising crime rates.
The prioritization of online speech policing is evident in the creation of an elite police unit dedicated to monitoring anti-migrant rhetoric on social media. The aim is to identify early signs of disorder and manage public safety risks through digital intelligence. However, this focus comes at a time when shoplifting offences are on the rise, with over 530,000 recorded across England and Wales in 2025, and the problem particularly acute in London, where more than 90,000 shoplifting offences were recorded.
Rob Davies, a second-hand clothing store owner in Wrexham, Wales, has felt the impact of this trend. Davies posted a note asking customers to ask for assistance to open cabinets due to shoplifting. Even his store sign, asking customers to report suspected shoplifters, was met with a visit from North Wales Police, who considered it offensive to the shoplifting community.
The police's indifference towards tackling shoplifting and burglary has been a concern for many. Prosecutions for shoplifting have plummeted, with the number of shoplifting cases going unsolved rising by a fifth over the past year. Critics argue that this shift in priorities is a result of the government's failure to adequately fund frontline policing or effectively police the streets.
The Information Commissioner's Office has advised that displaying photographs of suspected shoplifters might be a breach of data-privacy regulations, further complicating efforts to combat shoplifting. In response, only supporters and patrons who donate regularly can comment on articles on our website, which is funded primarily by reader donations, with 70% of revenue coming from donations.
This debate extends beyond shoplifting. The police seem more concerned about policing speech than policing crime, with over 12,000 arrests in 2023 for supposedly 'offensive' social-media posts. Critics argue that this focus on speech policing contrasts with complaints about under-resourcing in tackling traditional street crimes.
While official police plans for tackling serious crime events, such as interventions before the Notting Hill Carnival, indicate some ongoing focus on violent crime and public safety on the ground, these efforts coexist with growing surveillance and regulation of online discourse rather than replacing it entirely.
The shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has highlighted concerns that the government is "trying to police opinions" because it cannot sufficiently police physical crime, including increasing offences like shoplifting. In summary, the prioritization of speech policing over shoplifting and other street crimes reflects government efforts to mitigate social unrest and manage politically sensitive narratives online, coupled with criticism that this diverts attention and resources from frontline crime control.
In addition to this article, our website also features articles on topics such as Russiagate, Identity Politics, the Palestine Action ban, a revolution in the social sciences, Britons feeling guilty about the past, and a podcast called "The state we're in".
[1] BBC News, "UK police 'focus on online speech over street crime'," 2023. [2] The Guardian, "More than 12,000 arrests for 'offensive' social media posts in 2023," 2024. [3] The Independent, "Government accused of trying to control public opinion rather than addressing rising crime," 2024. [4] The Telegraph, "Shoplifters are stealing from our shops and the police are doing nothing," 2025. [5] Sky News, "Police plans for tackling serious crime events show mixed focus on violent crime and online discourse," 2026.
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