A street of independent shops in Lincoln is defying a national trend of increased shoplifting.

Shoplifting figures are at their highest since records began, according to the Office of National Statistics, with the East Midlands being the most impacted area.

However, Steep Hill in Lincoln appears to have very few reports of shoplifting.

The street is known for its unique retail shops, vintage character and unsurprisingly, its steepness.

With a gradient of 16.12 degrees, shoppers regularly trek up the fourth steepest street in England to reach independent shops, such as Steep Hill Wines, The Pot Shop and On The Hill.

Named Britain’s Greatest Street in 2012 by the Academy of Urbanism, Steep Hill now appears to be championing another achievement: low shoplifting numbers.

Yvette Mills, project manager for Lincoln Big, a business improvement group, said: “We have an intelligent database which the shops sign up to, and we have a security radio link for the shops and pubs in that area.”

Of the five shop owners who were interviewed for this article, all said they had not been impacted by shoplifting.

One of them is Jackie Hodson. She sells fine jewellery in her shop, On The Hill/ Her average sale is £200, but shoplifting is a rare occurrence.

Jackie praises the local policing policy, saying: “The relationship between the police, the council, and the traders, is very good.

“I’ve been open for two and a half years and I had two instances of shoplifting, the last one about a year and a half ago. So, shoplifting is definitely not an issue.”