A CRACKDOWN on shoplifting has been promised by Lancashire's police commissioner to stop organised criminals moving in and cut attacks on store staff.

Clive Grunshaw made the pledge to councillors on the county's Police and Crime Panel meeting in Blackburn Town Hall.

He said conviction rates for shoplifting in the county were 'absolutely appalling'.

Mr Grunshaw welcomed new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's moves to end the previous government's decision to class thefts of items worth under £200 in total as 'low-value shoplifting' and to press ahead with creating a new separate crime of 'assaulting a shop worker'.

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Mr Grunshaw told Tuesday's meeting: "In terms of the issues around retail crime, I think it has got out of hand. It really has.

"I've been out with USDAW and the Co-op to a store in Morecambe where they said they have got literally people going in every day, picking up their sandwich and drink off the shelves and just walking out and they know no-one is going to challenge them.

"To be fair to the manager he said: 'Look if they've got no money, and asked for it we would give it them anyway.'.

"But they've also got organised crime getting involved in stealing from shops now.

"Because organised crime will go wherever there is easy money.

"And they can go from one shop to another to the shelves, drive on, empty the shelves again because they know it's not going to be investigated.

"The rates by which we get convictions are absolutely appalling.

"So that is why it is so important to make this a priority.

"We know that this is escalating already.

"And organised crime is getting involved but you're also seeing that the number of attacks on shopworkers is increasing and so I think the specific offence of violence against retail workers is really important.

"It sends a clear message that we're going to ensure that shopworkers get the support they need.

"And that this behaviour where people feel they can walk into a shop, pick up what they want and walk out again is not going to be accepted.

"And so I'm really pleased the government have made a clear statement on this and this will be a part of the priorities within the police and crime plan."