Britain has become a nation of dishonest scroungers where people cheat the benefits system and openly steal from supermarkets, a study has warned.
The report sheds a light on the worrying trends mostly associated with younger people and changing social attitudes that have made theft almost a national sport.
Research from David Shepherd, a criminologist at the University of Portsmouth, highlighted a growing tolerance for everyday economic criminality.
The comments follow statistics that indicated a decrease since 2011 in the share of the population that thinks benefit claims are never justified, from 85 to 67 per cent.
A drop of similar margin was seen in the number of people who believe it is never permissible to accept bribes or buy stolen property.
And between 2019 and 2022 the share of adults who told the British Social Attitudes survey that benefit cheats were likely to be caught fell from 41 per cent to 28 per cent.
Mr Shepherd told The Times: What the research shows is that there has been a decline in honesty and that it is associated with younger people.
We have young people being exposed to attitudes and behaviours which normalise everyday dishonesty and everyday cheating.
Research from David Sheperd, a criminologist at the University of Portsmouth, highlights a growing tolerance for everyday economic criminality (file image)
Statistics indicate a decrease since 2011 in the share of the population that thinks benefit claims are never justified, from 85 to 67 per cent (file image)
Social media fads that have encouraged stealing include a TikTok trend that involves younger thieves explicitly sharing tips on how to steal from large retailers - known as the borrowing community.
News of the social change follows the Department for Work and Pensions warning of how Britains growing propensity to commit fraud could cost the benefits system an additional £2billion each year.
Professor Emmeline Taylor of City, University of London, who coined the term swiper - Seemingly Well Intentioned Patrons Engaging in Regular shoplifting - has weighed in with her thoughts on the topic.
She said it is easier to steal in a digital society, explaining: You wouldnt go and take £50 from somebody in person — but if you know you could benefit by £50 by tapping an incorrect figure into a spreadsheet on a screen, its very different.
It comes as both criminologists have suggested the social contract that would normally prevent such behaviour is loosening.
Stores like Waitrose have reportedly tried to tackle the outbreak by using tactics like love-bombing where staff are trained to be extra attentive towards customers at checkouts.