CHARITIES in Jersey say demand for food and financial support has risen sharply in recent years, with some Islanders now turning to shoplifting to feed their families amid the cost-of-living crisis.
While retailers and police point to prevention efforts and stable theft levels, support organisations report growing pressure on services – particularly from parents struggling with food costs, childcare fees and insecure housing.
For some, charity aid is no longer enough.
Emma – whose name has been changed to protect her anonymity – never imagined she would be shoplifting to feed herself and her child.
Born in Jersey, she built what she described as a “successful career” in the UK after university and supported herself through self-employment.
Her circumstances changed abruptly while retraining for a new career, when she became pregnant. Her partner did not want a family and, while renting at the time, she was evicted – leaving her “suddenly single, pregnant and homeless”.
With no savings and newly qualified, Emma returned to Jersey to be closer to family support, hoping to live independently, continue working and pay for childcare – but the reality was very different.
“I realised that the system here does not support single parents who are self-employed and living with their family,” she said. “It was quite a shock, it was very very hard.”
Emma says she was unable to access financial support in her first year back on the Island, with “massive barriers” preventing help with nursery fees.
“I realised I was falling through all the gaps in the system,” she said. “It felt like it was persecuting me. I fell through so many systemic holes.”
Her entire income was swallowed by childcare, with nursery fees costing £1,700 a month for four days a week.
“I basically had no income,” she said. “I was going to food banks as my whole salary was paying for nursery care.”
Housing also proved impossible. As a self-employed single parent, Emma described herself as the “least eligible person to get a rental”.
“The system is absolutely diabolical,” she said.
Emma relied on food banks, voucher schemes and charities, but said the support was not sustainable. “They’re meant to be a stop gap, not permanent,” she explained.
With a toddler to feed, she found the help increasingly inadequate – particularly when it came to fresh food.
“Prices in Jersey for food are absolutely outrageous, especially for fresh food,” she said. “In the UK, fresh food is affordable – but not here.”
After exhausting what support she could access, Emma turned to shoplifting.
“I have had to shoplift food for the last year for me and my child to survive,” she said. “I’d rather my child be able to eat and not be worried about where the next meal is coming from.”
Emma said she weighed up the risks carefully.
“I don’t fear being sent to jail. What I fear is that my child isn’t going to have enough to eat.”
She said she has “used every service in the Island”, but added that relying on charity support can be more stressful than shoplifting.
“It’s not a consistent way to live,” she said.
The festive period can be particularly hard.
“Last Christmas I was so upset, traumatised and low – I couldn’t afford a tree for my child’s first Christmas,” she said.
“My child’s presents were all from charities. I had to steal a Christmas tree and the food.”
Emma praised the work of charities but called for greater government intervention.
“The cost of living is a crisis the Island doesn’t care enough about,” she said. “The voucher schemes are not enough. There needs to be huge reform.”
Emma said she has been left feeling trapped.
“I want to live in my own space, as most adults do, but it’s been virtually impossible,” she explained.
“I have no security of housing, no security of food. I am systemically falling outside of any kind of support.”
Emma added that suggestions that parents should simply “give up” their careers show how disconnected policymakers are from reality.
“If people want to work and contribute to the economy then they should be able to. This Island is meant to be child-friendly and it’s not. I would leave if I could afford to – but I am trapped because it’s too expensive to move.”
She explained: “I know that shoplifting is the more ethical approach as a parent – I am making the better choice for my child, and that’s what’s matters.”
Salvation Army officer Richard Nunn said that the charity has seen a consistent increase in Islanders needing support over the past five years. The organisation handed out 1,040 food parcels in 2021, rising to 3,802 in 2024.
The charity’s community store project The Pantry Store, which has been open for around eight months, sells subsidised items to provide shopping with “dignity and respect” for those struggling.
Captain Nunn said that over 600 households had signed up so far.
“On average we see around 150 households each week,” he said.
Captain Nunn acknowledged that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time.
“Everyone feels the pressure to make it special,” he said.
However, he urged those struggling to make use of the support on offer before turning to shoplifting.
“Come and talk to charities,” he said. “If people need support, they can come to us.”
Caring Cooks chief executive Yvonne Corbin said that demand for support remains high and has not eased.
“We are seeing more working families needing help, not because they are doing anything wrong, but because rising food, energy and housing costs leave very little room for error,” she said. “Many parents are cutting back on their own food to make sure their children can eat.”
She added that whilst support is available, “it is not always easy to access or well understood”.
“For many families the system can feel complex and intimidating, so people often wait until they are at crisis point before asking for help,” she explained.
“We are also seeing this more openly now, with increasing numbers of people turning to social media to ask for support, particularly around food.
“Jersey has strong community support in place. Local charities and organisations can help with food, vouchers and practical advice, and anyone who is struggling should be encouraged to reach out early. Asking for help should not feel like a last resort.”
While Emma’s experience highlights the pressures faced by some families, police say overall shoplifting levels do not necessarily reflect a widespread rise in theft across the Island.
States police confirmed that festive shoplifting fell this year, following an increase in 2023, with larceny from shops down from 178 to 142 year-on-year.
Retailers have also stressed that their own figures do not point to a significant increase in shoplifting locally, citing prevention measures and cooperation with law enforcement.
Channel Island Co-operative chief executive Mark Cox stressed that theft was “not a victimless crime”, with consequences for staff, businesses and the wider community.
He said: “We have not experienced any significant increase in shoplifting, reflecting the effectiveness of our in-store measures and the strong external support in place.
“The police are responsive and supportive, taking incidents seriously and acting promptly on complaints, which stands in positive contrast to the situation currently seen in the UK.
“It should also be recognised that shoplifting is not a victimless crime; it has genuine financial and social consequences for businesses, employees, and the wider community.
“While it is sometimes portrayed as minor or harmless, the resulting losses can impact pricing and place colleagues in challenging and difficult situations to manage.”
The government’s Employment, Social Security and Housing Department said: “We are committed to supporting Islanders with the cost of living.
“There are a range of measures available to help. Throughout this year we ran a communications programme highlighting the support and benefits available to Islanders.
“We would encourage anyone needing help to contact Employment, Social Security and Housing.”
Islanders can call the Employment, Social Security and Housing Department Department on 444444, see them in person at Union Street, or email at customerservice@gov.je
