Shoplifting in Portsmouth a ‘big problem’ says Councillor
Shoppers and businesses in Portsmouth will see increased police patrols this summer
Last updated 14th Jul 2025
Shoplifting in Portsmouth is still a big problem according to Lib Dem Councillor Lee Hunt.
His comments are in response to Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper’s plans to reduce crime this summer.
Portsmouth is one of 500 towns and cities to sign up to the Safer Streets summer crack down.
The sea front and areas of high anti-social behaviour will see increased police patrols and presence.
Labour say shoplifting increased by 70% in the last two years of the Tory Government.
Cllr Lee Hunt says: “There's no question about shoplifting in Portsmouth, it is a big problem. We welcome any additional initiatives around that. Whether or not it works we shall have to see if the stats come down, but I'm hopeful that it will”
“Shoplifting is carried out more and more by criminal gangs. I once intervened in a shoplifting where two women were stealing a great deal of alcohol from his shop and we tried to see where they went and out of the house burst six or seven men all armed with hammers. They chased us down the road and jumped in our car and they hammered the car.”
“We called the police and nobody came from start to finish and that's the trouble, the police are so stretched. They can't come sometimes to even very serious incidents when they're called. So any focus on the police and funding the police is welcome, but there's a big job ahead for this government and let's hope they're up to it.”
Part of the Labour Government’s Plan for Change, also sees 13,000 more police officers in neighbourhood roles aided by a £200m cash injection.
This injection only allows Hampshire an additional 65 officers.
Lee says the £200m investment for the police is ‘worthwhile’ but Hampshire is still ‘badly impacted’.
“It shows the imbalance in how the government or civil servants divvy up money for the police. The police crime commissioner and The Chief Constable have long complained about this, and it needs to be looked at so that we do get a fair number of police officers here.”
“After the last government did get rid of 20,000 police officers. It's not only about recruitment, it's about retention. The police federation for Hampshire, will tell you that their members are going sick with mental health problems and injuries and so much more is expected of police officers.”
“Their resources are very thin but they work hard. And you need to pay the police fairly to keep them retained.”