Politics

Priti Patel brags that ‘shoplifting is down’ – during the height of lockdown

Priti Patel became a target of ridicule this weekend after she bragged about shoplifting being down during lockdown.

The Home Secretary grabbed onto a morsel of good news as she tried to buff up the government’s public perception amid falling approval ratings.

She pointed out that “car crime, burglary and shoplifting are all lower than the same time last year”, but many people were quick to point out the obvious.

Many shops have been forced to close on the back of government lockdown recommendations, and people have been asked to stay at home with widespread police surveillance in operation.

Needless to say, the reaction was quite rightly one of disbelief:

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Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

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