Andy Burnham has called for a national crackdown on shoplifting as he unveiled plans to revive the UK’s high streets.

The Prime Minister set out plans on Tuesday to curb prolific shoplifting, insisting it was “wrong” for police forces to deprioritise the offence.

It comes after Mr Burnham outlined plans to hand more power to local councils in a bid to save Britain’s “hollowed-out high streets”, with provisional proposals including blocking new bookmakers and vape shops.

“I don’t consider shoplifting to be a small thing,” Mr Burnham told LBC, as he urged police forces around the country to take a “strong line” against thefts.

He also said he supported the ‘broken window theory’ of policing.

“I actually subscribe to what people would call the broken window theory of policing. If you let some things go, you’re actually creating the conditions for a lot more to then follow in behind.

“Get a hold of everything, and I don’t consider shoplifting to be a small thing.

“I think it can make staff and customers feel very fearful. It can drag down the perception of safety in a particular place if it’s left unchecked.”

The broken window theory was implemented aggressively in the 1990s in New York under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Police Commissioner William Bratton.

Police on patrol cracked down on petty crimes like vandalism and fare evasion – with studies showing significant reduction in both petty and serious crimes in subsequent years.

This week, high street bakery chain Greggs was forced to introduce ‘robocops’ in a bid to curb thefts following a notable uptick in shoplifting offences.

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