A Darlington Neighbourhood Inspector has revealed why there is currently a shoplifting 'epidemic' in the town.

Statistics from police data show that the number of shoplifting cases has more than doubled from 56 in April 2022 to 116 in April 2024.

Shops across Darlington have reported a sharp rise in low-value theft, with one business branding it as an 'epidemic'.

Insp. Jim O'Connor has noticed a number of factors adding to the problem from cuts to public services, organised criminal groups, court backlogs and prison capacity.

He described how shoplifting cases soared after the pandemic and have only started to stabilise in the last few months.

Despite rumours that the police are not interested if items under £11 are stolen, the inspector made it clear that the service wants to hear about any offences regardless of price.

Insp. O'Connor said: "There is an absolute rise in retail crime nationally and locally.

"It started to creep up to pre-Covid levels in March last year. It crept up over summer and it dropped at the end of last year.

"Cases have started to stabilise now. 

"In Darlington we have one of the best resolution rates in the country. We also have the best resolution rate in Durham Constabulary.

"That of course doesn't change the volume of the crimes and it doesn't change the experience of people.

"I need to say that there is absolutely no bar on value on what we investigate.

"I wouldn't be happy if an officer or member of staff has given an impression that we as an organisation are not interested in lower value claims."

The inspector described how officers would arrest a shoplifter and that after a few weeks, even if they were given time in prison, they would be back out in the public without any change in their behaviour.

He said: "We investigate every crime. We arrest people daily. Today there are three shoplifters in for retail thefts in our cells. It is constant.

"We have some people going to court with 10 or 20 counts of retail theft at a time.

"These are people with complex issues, they have lots of needs that could be met.

"Some of our regular offenders will have 100 convictions and they might get a few weeks but then they are straight back out.

"What choice do they have to get better?"

Insp. O'Connor described how the rise of organised criminal groups (OCGs) in the area has been at the same time as cuts in public services.

He said: "In the last 15 years, definitely the last 10 years, the power and guile of organised groups has increased in this area.

"The symptoms of that can be seen all over the country. 

"It is unhappy that it has happened at a time when public services have had to find a lot of efficiency savings.

"It's a symptom of a wider issue. It's not just the police, it's the health services, the prison services and the criminal justice sector."

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He described how "staffing pressure" has contributed to the rise in shoplifting. That pressure has combined badly with an increased demand from a growing population.

The inspector said: "Regardless of the backdrop of staffing we will do our best.

"I absolutely care about this issue. It is about keeping people safe."