A growing share of Britain’s most persistent shoplifters are escaping jail, according to new Ministry of Justice figures highlighted by the Daily Telegraph. Nearly 60% of offenders with at least 15 previous convictions avoided prison in the year to March—the highest proportion since comparable records began in 2008. Among the cases cited was a woman who stayed out of custody despite 315 prior convictions. Police and retail industry representatives say the trend is eroding deterrence and fuelling a rise in store theft. Katy Bourne, the national police lead for shoplifting and Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, said there is “no point” arresting repeat offenders if courts do not impose meaningful sanctions. Retailers have long complained that organised gangs and drug-addicted thieves target high-street shops with little fear of punishment. The figures come against a backdrop of prison overcrowding and government efforts to ease pressure on jails by encouraging community sentences for low-level, non-violent crimes. Critics argue the policy is backfiring, pointing to higher losses for retailers and greater risks for staff and customers. Bourne and other policing officials are urging ministers to review sentencing guidelines and increase capacity for addiction treatment, warning that failure to act will leave local shops and communities “held hostage” by habitual thieves.