Bluewater is one of the highest crime hotspots in the UK, although police insist the figures are very low considering the volume of people using the shopping centre.

At total of 79 crimes were reported in April – the equivalent of more than two every day, it was reported.

The figure placed the landmark shopping centre as the fourth highest places for crime in the country, behind Stansted Airport in Essex, Newgate Street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Meridian Square in London.

Of the incidents reported at Bluewater, more than 80 per cent were shoplifting and theft offences.

Police say Bluewater is still a safe place to visit. They also reported that the number of crimes reported in April 2015 was in fact 75.

Insp Gary Woodward, of the Dartford Community Safety Unit, said: "Bluewater, which has exceptionally high visitor numbers, has a dedicated Kent Police station and specialist officers on patrol throughout the centre.

"We work closely with the stores to ensure they have security measures in place and monitor CCTV throughout the centre.

"However, a yearly footfall of more than 28 million, there will always be those who try to ruin the enjoyment of others."

A Bluewater spokesman added: "As a proportion of our guest numbers visiting Bluewater, the incident levels remain very low.

"We are proud to work closely with Kent Police to ensure that Bluewater is an enjoyable place for our guests to visit."