4,966 people were sentenced for committing a theft in 2022 – up from 4,856 in 2021 reports Andrew Dowdeswell, Data Reporter
More thieves were sentenced in London last year, new figures show.
Across England and Wales, the number of sentences handed out for thefts rose for the first time since 2011, with concerns raised about the number of investigations being launched and completed into low-level crime.
Ministry of Justice figures show 4,966 people were sentenced for committing a theft offence in London in 2022 – up from 4,856 in 2021.
Nationally, 36,903 sentences for theft – which includes shoplifting, blackmail, burglary and stealing a vehicle or bicycle – were dished out last year, up from 33,912 the year before.
The Police Federation of England and Wales said the increase is “to be expected given the recent pivot towards prioritising theft and burglaries”.
But the rise is well below previous years, with the number of sentences steadily declining – a decade ago, there were 126,359, of which 17,980 were in London.
The PFEW has called for “significant improvements” to be made to the criminal justice system.
A PFEW spokesperson said: “The government must properly recognise and support police officers who are exhausted, overworked, underpaid and struggling to deliver the service they want to give because of the increasing demands of the job as part of the solution to improve rates.
“Ultimately, it is easy to take quick wins from individual figures but often this does not tell the whole story and it is imperative that we consider new data in a collective way to be able to draw out the right solutions to improve the criminal justice system as a whole.”
Prosecutions and convictions across the country also rose for the first time since 2011 last year, with 42,300 and 36,700 recorded respectively.
The average custody length thieves received in 2022 was 11.2 weeks, down from 12.9 the year before, while the average fine handed down rose slightly from £122 to £124.
Meanwhile, separate Home Office figures show 398,158 theft offences were recorded in London last year – up from 334,433 in 2021.
Some 432,454 offences were recorded in 2012, a decade ago.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: “Theft can have a serious impact on victims, and we are determined to bring perpetrators to justice whenever our legal test is met.
“We can only prosecute cases that are referred to us following an investigation and will continue to work closely with police to bring offenders to justice.”
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly
More Information about donations