‘People need aid, not criminalisation’: Sadiq Khan’s comments on shoplifting nappies spark debate

What would you do if you saw someone stealing nappies? The Big Issue asked this question in an exclusive interview with mayor of London Sadiq Khan – and his answer sparked a huge reaction on social media and across other news publications and radio.

“What upsets me is the tags you have now, on nappies and baby foods, because of the issue that is in relation to somebody who is shoplifting,” the mayor told us.

“In the hypothetical case, I suspect I’ll take my wallet out, and I would pay for it.”

The comment led several national news bulletins since publication on Wednesday (24 April) – including BBC Radio 5 Live, Times Radio and Talk TV – and has prompted a divided response.

Laurence Guinness, CEO of The Childhood Trust, said that Sadiq Khan’s answer didn’t address systemic issues, but agreed that criminalisation isn’t the answer.

“With foodbanks and charities running out of food due to demand, many families are going hungry and resorting to shoplifting food to keep their children from starving,” he said.

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“While policing resources require improvement, for families on very low or no incomes because they are unable to work we need additional food aid, not criminalisation.”

Paul Gerrard, director of campaigns at Co-op, conceded that some people are stealing out of hunger.

“There are undoubtedly – and always have been – people who are stealing because they can’t make ends meet. They’re stealing to feed themselves,” he told Nicky Campbell on his BBC Radio 5 Live show, which had dedicated a full hour to discussing Sadiq Khan’s comments.

“Then there are a group of people who are relatively vulnerable because of substance abuse issues, or they’re young… they’re being run by others to steal to order.”

Some retailers expressed a level of sympathy for disadvantaged people who resort to theft.

“It’s desperate, desperate people, needing money more than anything,” conceded Karen Armstrong to the BBC, a newsagent who runs an anti-shoplifting organisation StopWatch in Kelso, Scotland.

However, she warned that serial theft takes a terrible toll on independent shops.

“We need to make everybody aware of what’s going on… [we have] a WhatsApp group where we let all the shops in the town know [about serial offenders],” she said.

Other callers pointed out that the security-protected items are often essentials that parents need in order to care for their children.

“We [should] talk about preventing it in the first place, rather than just punishing it when it happens,” caller Mack told BBC Radio Five Live. “Preventing people getting into the situation where they feel they need to do that. [We need] to understand why people might do it so we can address those underlying problems first.”

Shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales have risen to the highest level since police records began in 2003.

A staggering 430,000 offences were recorded last year – up by over a third than the previous 12 months to December 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Gerrard said that the increase in theft is accompanied by a surge in violence toward shop workers.

“The police need to take this seriously. Because shop workers are in danger, and so shops are in danger. You only have to look at communities that are struggling and you’ll see boarded up shops,” he said.

“In 2023 we saw a 44% rise in incidents in our Co-op stores. We’re not unique in that, every retailer is facing this.”

However, campaigners have urged the government to address route causes, rather than simply tighten punishments.

The cost of living crisis is driving children as young as seven to theft, the Big Issue reported last year.

Guinness said that Sadiq’s answer only hinted at a broader systemic issue.

“In saying he would pay, Sadiq Khan fails to address the inadequacies of the welfare system that is penalising 3rd-plus children for being born, punitive to those children with additional needs and has completely failed to provide enough affordable social housing,” he said.