Asylum Seekers Linked to Rising Designer Shoplifting in London

Organised gangs of asylum seekers in London have been caught shoplifting thousands of pounds worth of designer goods from high-end stores such as Liberty, Polo Ralph Lauren, John Lewis, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton before returning to taxpayer-funded hotels. Security guards report that around 70% of shoplifters in the West End are asylum seekers, who use tin foil-lined bags to evade shop security alarms and are often released after a short detention due to limited police resources. These shoplifting activities are believed to be a way for asylum seekers to pay off debts to people smugglers. Private security personnel describe the situation as "verging on lawlessness," with police rarely attending incidents and the same offenders repeatedly caught but released. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick called for immediate deportation of those involved, describing the criminality as a national security emergency. The Home Office stated it is taking robust action to remove offenders and crack down on shoplifting across the country.