2025/28331 - Shoplifting involving baby food and menstrual products and links to modern slavery

REQUEST

I am writing to make a freedom of information request for data held in relation to shoplifting offences recorded between January 2015 and the end of December 2024.

Question 1

Based on keyword searches, please provide me with offence and outcome data held for all shoplifting crimes involving the following items:

1. A) Menstrual products (a non-exhaustive list of relevant keywords would also include: feminine hygiene products, tampons, sanitary pads, Tampax, period products, Always pads, moon cup, panty liners)

1. B) Baby food or formula (a non-exhaustive list of relevant keywords would also include: baby milk, formula milk, baby milk powder, toddler milk, infant formula)

I would like the data to include a breakdown of the offences by:

• The calendar year the crime was recorded
• Either the month or the calendar quarter the crime was recorded
• The offence code
• The name of the offence
• Details recorded about the item(s) stolen
• The outcome recorded, as per Home Office outcome types category (eg outcome 1 - charge/summons, outcome 2 - caution, etc)
• The sex of the suspect
• The officer defined ethnicity of the suspect, where available
• The self-reported ethnicity of the suspect, where available
• The age of the suspect if possible, or the age group if not (e.g. under 10, 10-17, 18-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70,71+)

The data table should follow the format of one row per offence recorded, with column headers consisting of the above bullet points (eg year, month/quarter etc). Please provide data for menstrual products and baby food separately, in separate tables.

Question 2

As per the flagging process outlined in the Home Office Annual Data Requirement, please provide me with data held on offence and outcome data held for all shoplifting crimes where it has been flagged that the offence, suspect or victim was linked to modern slavery.

I would like the data to include a breakdown of the offences by:

• The calendar year the crime was recorded
• Either the month or the calendar quarter the crime was recorded
• The offence code
• The name of the offence
• Details recorded about the item(s) stolen
• Any details recorded about the circumstances of the slavery flag
• The outcome recorded, as per Home Office outcome types of category (e.g. outcome 1 - charge/summons, outcome 2 - caution, etc)
• The sex of the suspect
• The officer defined ethnicity of the suspect, where available
• The self-reported ethnicity of the suspect, where available
• The age of the suspect if possible, or the age group if not (e.g. under 10, 10-17, 18-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70,71+)

The data table should follow the format of one row per offence recorded, with column headers consisting of the above bullet points (e.g. year, month/quarter etc).

RESPONSE