Crackdown on shoplifting gangs yields huge increase in arrests claim cops
Greater Manchester Police has claimed that its crackdown on shoplifting gangs has led to nearly 900 arrests with more than 700 charges secured for shoplifting offences across Greater Manchester across the first quarter of 2025.
And the senior officer in charge of the initiative has said she hears the frustrations that businesses have when it comes to shoplifters, and pledged to work closely with businesses suffering from attacks on workers and large scale thefts.
Supt Cara Charlesworth said: “Whether you work in a large multinational supermarket or a local corner shop; we are there for you.”
The force has made the protection of workers in retail businesses a higher priority under Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who has had his contract extended by Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.
Watson has made ‘back-to-basics’ policing his priority with a more visible presence on the streets, and to address perceptions that the police don’t care about shoplifting.
More than 100 shoplifters brought to justice every week in Greater Manchester. More than 5,000 shoplifting offences in the year up to November 2024 were solved – a huge increase on recent years.
In total, 893 arrests were made in the three months up until 3 April 2025, with a further 707 charges in that same period.
Through continued partnerships with local stores and partners, officers are continuing to tackle retail crime, through both preventative and proactive work.
This has seen everything from days of actions – such as Stockport’s crime-busting Operation Rimini – to dedicated units, including Bolton’s shoplifting team, which has secured countless arrests and charges.
Spt Cara Charlesworth
Supt Charlesworth, who co-ordinates the action across each GM borough as the force lead for retail crime, said: “Every year we strive to improve our service to our business community across Greater Manchester, I am really pleased with the progress that has been made over the last couple of years and the partnership work that is going from strength to strength.”
She added: “This year alone, we have secured hundreds of arrests and charges, and at times last year, we were locking up 100 suspects every single week. This momentum has continued into 2025 with solved rates for retail crime continuing to rise.
“We completely understand the frustrations that businesses have when it comes to shoplifters, and I want to reassure them that we stand firmly alongside them. Whether you work in a large multinational supermarket or a local corner shop; we are there for you.
“I would urge any stores with any ongoing issues to get in touch with their local neighbourhood team, as they will be best-placed to help with your queries.”
The force has also made efforts to drive out organised crime from the city region, launching Operation Vulcan to tackle counterfeit shops in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, seizing almost 1050 tonnes of items, shutting down 216 shops, and making 238 arrests – resulting in a 62 per cent drop in violent crime.
On Stephen Watson’s contract extension, Burnham said: “Greater Manchester Police has been transformed under Stephen Watson’s leadership.
“When we appointed him to the role in 2021, we were confident that he was the person to turn the force around and lead it into a new era – and that is what he has done.”
Watson became Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in May 2021 at a difficult time for GMP. The force had been placed into ‘Special Measures’ by HMICFRS given the manifold failings in the organisation at that time.
“Because of his proactive, back-to-basics approach, and his strong commitment to neighbourhood policing, crime is down across the board and more criminals are being brought to justice.
“While GMP has made significant strides, Stephen and I recognise that there is still more to do. That is precisely why today we are backing him to finish the job and deliver the rebuilt trust and confidence that everyone in Greater Manchester should have in their police force.”
