Police to Use Passport Database to Catch Shoplifters

It comes amid a surge in retail crime across the country, with staff often facing violence and abuse by perpetrators.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Chris Philp arrives at the Treasury office in central London on Sept. 7, 2022. Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images

Police will check shoplifters caught on CCTV against official databases, including passports, as part of a new zero-tolerance approach to retail crime.

Businesses across the country have been significantly affected by shoplifting, which has often resulted in violence or abuse towards retail workers.