Organised theft, verbal abuse, and direct violence against retail staff is not just shoplifting.
With shop workers facing threats, intimidation, and assault on a daily basis, when did stealing from a store become so dangerously normalised, and why is retail crime still routinely dismissed as a victimless offence?
As shop theft hits 20-year highs nationally, a pressing question emerges: how can police, businesses, and local leaders dismantle the culture of impunity surrounding store theft and protect frontline workers without compromising the open, welcoming nature of our high streets?
In this fifth episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Professor Emmeline Taylor (Professor of Criminology at City St George's and presenter of the Retail Crime Uncovered podcast) and Tijs Broeke (Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive, they unpack the true scale of retail crime and why the Square Mile’s targeted hotspot policing is delivering outcome rates double the national average. From the lucrative theft of everyday products like chocolate to the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding live facial recognition and AI, they challenge us to look beyond simplistic headlines and confront the realities facing our high streets.
Moving beyond superficial fixes, this episode explores the profound psychological toll on retail staff, the hidden costs passed down to honest consumers, and the essential role of cross-sector partnerships in tackling underlying social drivers like addiction and poverty. By examining how better technology and swift enforcement can rebuild public confidence, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector perspective on ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it.
Global Commercial Awareness short course
Taught by former Lord Mayor of the City of London, Professor Michael Mainelli, our new short course will develop your strategic and commercial awareness by exploring the global forces shaping business, markets, organisations and decision-making. Running for 5 weeks from 15 November 2026, click here to find out more and secure your place.
Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.
This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.
You can access a transcript of this conversation here.
This is a Research Podcasts production.
Episode Credits
Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's
Guests: Emmeline Taylor and Tijs Broeke
Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts
Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts
Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay
","author_name":"The Finsbury Institute"}