Almost two in three Brits would back a zero-tolerance approach from the police towards those caught shoplifting, a new poll has indicated.
There is growing concern about the soaring levels of thefts from stores in villages, towns and cities - and many overstretched police forces are now not even investigating the incidents.
But a People Polling survey* of 1,900 people commissioned by GB News reveals the public think this is the wrong approach.
People Polling asked if ‘police should adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to dealing with shoplifters and investigate every crime, even if the stolen goods are worth less than £200’.
The poll also indicates how the majority of Brits feel the level of crime in their area is going up
PA
In response, 38 per cent said they “completely agreed” and another 27 per cent “somewhat agreed” meaning a total of 65 per cent were in agreement.
Just 13 percent “somewhat disagreed” while six percent said they “completely disagreed”. Eleven per cent said they didn’t know.
The poll also indicates how the majority of Brits feel the level of crime in their area is going up.
In a blow to the Government, 62 per cent said they felt crime is “increasing”, 15 per cent said they thought it had “stayed the same” and only two per cent felt crime was decreasing. Seven per cent said they didn’t know.
Those polled also appear to lack confidence in the police to deal with crime.
Only two per cent said they had “a lot of confidence” in police being able to solve crimes.
And 27 per cent said they had a “fair amount of confidence”.
But 46 per cent said they had “not very much confidence” and 14 per cent said they had “no confidence at all”. Six per cent said they didn’t know.
Voters also appear to think the problems with immigration across The Channel are impacting the current situation with crime.
People Polling asked if immigration to Britain in recent years made the crime situation in the country better or worse.
In response, 45 per cent said it had made it worse. Only one per cent felt it was better, 29 per cent said it had made no difference, and 19 per cent didn’t know.
Sixty-eight per cent of Conservatives and 67 per cent of Leavers think immigration has made crime worse.
GB NEWS EXCLUSIVES:
Voters also appear to think the problems with immigration across The Channel are impacting the current situation with crime.
PAProfessor Matthew Goodwin of the University of Kent commented: “These results show widespread public concern over crime in Britain today.
“The vast majority of voters believe that crime is increasing in British society, and they no longer have confidence in the police to deal with this issue.
“What we also see in these results is strong public support for a zero tolerance approach to dealing with shoplifters. And when it comes to the relationship between immigration and crime, we find that nearly half of all voters now believe that immigration has made levels of crime worse in British society.
“What this underlines is the fact that crime is now playing a leading role in British politics and will have a considerable influence on the outcome of the next general election.”
The poll was conducted by PeoplePolling for GB News and surveyed 1,900 adults in Britain on 13 September.
