Security staff in London’s West End have reported that asylum seekers are behind a significant proportion of shoplifting incidents in the capital’s premier shopping district, with organised gangs targeting high-end retailers before returning to taxpayer-funded accommodation. The allegations come as new data reveals thousands of asylum seekers have been using government-issued payment cards for gambling activities.
An unnamed private security worker has claimed that asylum seekers comprise approximately 70 per cent of individuals detained for shoplifting in the West End, according to testimony provided to The Sun. The whistleblower described encountering “the same faces again and again” as alleged offenders repeatedly target stores including Polo Ralph Lauren and John Lewis.
The security professional painted a stark picture of enforcement challenges, stating that police attend only “two out of every 10” incidents where suspected shoplifters are detained. Under current regulations, security staff can hold suspected offenders for a maximum of four hours before being required to release them without charge.
Scale of the Problem
The allegations emerge against a backdrop of soaring shoplifting rates across the capital. Metropolitan Police data shows that shoplifting offences in London reached 88,248 incidents in the 12 months to December 2024, whilst City of London Police reported 1,573 cases, representing a 61 per cent increase.
These figures form part of a broader national crisis in retail crime. Office for National Statistics data reveals that shoplifting offences across England and Wales rose by 20 per cent in the year ending March 2025, reaching 516,971 incidents—the highest level since current police recording practices began in 2003.
The security source claimed that detained individuals often present ID cards confirming their asylum seeker status. In other instances, suspects allegedly state they “came over on boats” and provide hotel addresses as their place of residence. The whistleblower characterised the situation as “verging on lawless”, highlighting systemic challenges in addressing retail crime.
Government Response
The Home Office has responded firmly to the allegations, with a spokeswoman stating: “No one claiming asylum should be breaking our laws and we will take robust action to remove anyone found to be doing so.
The department highlighted its enforcement record, noting that “since July 2024, we have removed over 5,000 foreign national offenders—a 14 per cent increase on the previous year.” The government has also announced plans to deploy 3,000 additional neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs to strengthen community safety.
New legislation is being introduced through the Crime and Policing Bill to tackle retail crime more effectively. The Metropolitan Police, for their part, report having solved 163 per cent more shoplifting cases this year compared to 2024, suggesting enhanced focus on the issue.
Previous Incidents
Court records reveal several high-profile cases involving asylum seekers and retail theft. In July 2024, two asylum seekers who targeted a reveller for his £25,000 Rolex in London’s Soho received community orders. Yousef Garef and Amin Abdelkadar were required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and adhere to a six-month curfew preventing them from leaving their Home Office accommodation in Islington between 9pm and 6am.
Judge Adam Hiddleston, presiding over the case, noted that such offending had “become a scourge of the West End” and “an all too frequent occurrence in the past few years.”
In a separate incident in January 2025, Frans Epentrius, 29, and Tobias Iileka, 33, were sentenced after attempting to steal designer items from John Lewis at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. Iileka was found carrying wire cutters during the incident, and both men admitted their offences when appearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court.
Gambling Controversy
In a related development, it has emerged that asylum seekers have been using taxpayer-funded payment cards for gambling activities. A Freedom of Information request by PoliticsHome revealed that 6,537 asylum seekers used their government-issued Aspen cards in “gambling settings” over the past year across the UK.
The cards, which provide £9.95 weekly for those in fully catered hotels and £49.18 for those in self-catered accommodation, are intended for essential purchases including food, clothing, and toiletries. However, data shows that in the highest single week on record in November 2024, 227 individuals attempted to use the cards for gambling.
The cards cannot be used online, meaning transactions occurred at physical locations including casinos, slot machine arcades, and National Lottery retailers. The Home Office has confirmed it has launched an investigation into the use of these cards.
Political Reaction
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the gambling revelations as “shocking” and “an insult to taxpayers.” He stated: “These people have illegally entered this country without needing to—France is safe and no one needs to flee from there. The British taxpayer has put them up in hotels and now they slap us in the face by using the money they are given to fund gambling.”
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Mayor Paul Bristow told PoliticsHome it was “not unusual” to see individuals who had arrived on small boats at betting establishments. He said: “Peterborough has seen a huge increase in the number of gambling establishments and gaming centres, and a huge increase in men who’ve arrived across the Channel on small boats.”
Retail Impact
The escalating shoplifting crisis has forced retailers to implement expensive security measures. Kensington shop owner Hanushka Toni, who runs luxury retailer Sellier, revealed spending nearly £100,000 on security for her new store, including £65,000 on a reinforced front door alone.
If we don’t look after our own security, no one else will,” she told ITV News, after her store was targeted by a masked moped gang who stole over half a million pounds worth of luxury items.
The British Retail Consortium estimates that retailers lose over £3 billion annually to theft, with costs ultimately passed on to consumers through higher prices. The crisis has led some major chains to lock everyday items behind security screens and install fog deterrents.
Enforcement Challenges
The shoplifting epidemic highlights broader challenges in the criminal justice system. Retailers report that only 20 per cent of stores report more than 75 per cent of theft incidents to police, with 62 per cent citing lack of law enforcement response as the primary reason for not reporting crimes.
This enforcement gap has created what some describe as a culture of impunity, where offenders face minimal consequences for their actions. The four-hour detention limit for security staff, combined with limited police attendance, means many suspected shoplifters are released without formal charges.
As the government pledges tougher action on retail crime and foreign offenders, the intersection of asylum policy and criminal justice continues to generate significant debate about resource allocation, enforcement priorities, and the balance between supporting vulnerable individuals and protecting public safety.
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