Tougher laws on UK retail crime are taking their first steps through parliament today (Tuesday 25 February).

The government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which will mostly apply in England and Wales, contains over 50 measures including stricter penalties for shoplifting of items under £200 and making it a new offence to assault a shop worker.

It also contains new ‘Respect Orders’, reminiscent of the Anti-social Behaviour Orders introduced by the last Labour government before being abolished in 2014.

Current laws don’t go far enough for shoplifting theft under £200 and such crimes can only be tried in a magistrates court.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The new Crime and Policing Bill is about taking back our streets and town centres, restoring respect for law and order, and giving the police and local communities the support and tools they need to tackle local crime.”

The British Retail Consortium warned in January that retail crime is “spiralling out of control”, hitting its highest level on record. Theft alone is now costing retailers £2.2 billion a year while violent and abusive incidents were up more than 50% last year. The crime prevention cost for stores is around £1.8 billion annually.