The issue of shoplifting and violence against shopworkers in the UK has come under scrutiny, with reports indicating a significant increase in theft and abuse. Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose and Co-op stores have expressed concerns over the police's response to shoplifting incidents, with claims that police are failing to attend to a substantial number of shoplifting incidents. A new report highlights a 44% surge in crime at Co-op stores, recording nearly 1000 cases of theft, abuse, and violence per day. Major retailers like Walmart and Target have suffered significant retail theft losses, leading to store closures in areas where theft has escalated. The situation has prompted calls for action from Parliament, with efforts to make assaulting a shopworker a specific standalone offense gaining support from MPs. The absence of police response in shoplifting incidents has led to calls for new protections for shop workers, as retailers express a lack of confidence in the police to address theft effectively.
✍️ Melanie McDonagh: The reason retailers like the Co-op are calling for new protections for shop workers is the quite marvellous absence of the police from the scene of crime in shops, when the crime in question is theft Read more: https://t.co/CKWEgCq2cx https://t.co/UPZsN346k6
MPs urged to back Bill making abuse of shop workers standalone offence https://t.co/cI0h1sWCzg
✍️ Melanie McDonagh: The reason retailers like the Co-op are calling for new protections for shop workers is the quite marvellous absence of the police from the scene of crime in shops, when the crime in question is theft Read more: https://t.co/6YlpZr3Hok https://t.co/2HEHsjP74o
A charity says its volunteers are having to deal with shoplifting every day worth thousands of pounds https://t.co/G0KOIt6ptA
Total support there must be zero tolerance of assaults against shopworkers. https://t.co/SJhdp8Jt7h
✍️ Melanie McDonagh: What these two cases of virtue-signalling legislation — to protect shop assistants and war memorials — have in common is a lack of confidence in the police to apply the law as it stands Read more: https://t.co/CKWEgCq2cx https://t.co/21ypZ3LfOo
TWO Bradford MPs have thrown their backing behind shopworkers after retail giant Co-op called for action to protect their staff from violence. https://t.co/gxm0MZ5ESK 🔗 Link below
WATCH: Footage of the moment a Co-op store was raided by a gang as statistics show in-store crime rates have dramatically increased.
A charity will be left thousands of pounds out of pocket after a burglary at its shop. https://t.co/c8v9pJd1Vu
Leeds Co-op staff face shoplifting violence daily, says manager https://t.co/IvG8316sgT
Violence against shopworkers is skyrocketing: it's time for action from Parliament. I've asked my MP @charlotte2153 to support an amendment which will make assaulting a shopworker a specific standalone offence.
With Walmart and Target both eclipsing $500 million in retail theft losses last year, it's no surprise that the retail giants have closed stores in cities "where theft has gotten out of control.” https://t.co/0jDLPp3teg
Police failed to attend 40 per cent of shoplifting incidents where covert store staff detained the offender, research by @CooperativeBank has revealed. https://t.co/G4hMaiXBrr https://t.co/iwPHwr6JVv
Police have lost grip on the scale and severity of shoplifting across the UK, according to a new report that found crime had soared by 44% in one of the country's largest supermarket chains. Co-op stores recorded nearly 1000 cases of theft abuse and violence per day last year. https://t.co/YEy4a2GloJ
‘Forty years ago the police would turn up…now they don't even answer the telephone.’ ASDA chairman Lord Stuart Rose discusses the ‘shoplifting epidemic’ with @NickFerrariLBC. https://t.co/xtNWrlwB6I
Police “don’t even answer the phone” for shoplifting calls anymore, Asda chairman Lord Rose claims https://t.co/BcFRe4A9ay
Police “don’t even answer the phone” for shoplifting calls anymore, Asda chairman Lord Stuart claims https://t.co/BcFRe4A9ay