Staffordshire Police says shoplifting in Stoke-on-Trent city centre has decreased by a third in the last year.

The force says from August 2024 to July 2025, the number of reported shoplifting offences in Hanley has decreased by 33.3% with 11 reported so far this month compared to 48 in August last year.

It comes as clothing retailer Sale Lab, which took on the former M&S unit in Hanley, shut for good this week citing theft as one of the main reasons for the closure.

In a statement to the BBC, the retailer said there was "limited visible policing" in Hanley with rising wages, taxes and staff challenges also given as reasons why the store wasn't financially sustainable.

Inspector Victoria Ison, from the Stoke north local policing team, said: "We do not underestimate the impact shoplifting can have on local businesses and the livelihoods of local people.

"As we continue to carry out targeted patrols across the town centre, we hope our visible presence has contributed in deterring shoplifters from offending."

Staffordshire Police say the decrease in shoplifting reported to them are a result of an increase in targeted patrols in identified 'hot-spot' areas and action being taken against prolific offenders.

Inspector Ison added: "We have also been issuing community behaviour orders and warnings to repeat offenders and referring cases to our investigations bureau to investigate.

"I'd like to reassure local businesses that whenever you report an instance of shoplifting to us, it is taken seriously and even if you aren't immediately visited by an officer, the case is taken on by the bureau to investigate thoroughly."