Retailer fires back at Met Police chief over shoplifting

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association, has voiced strong disagreement with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley's recent public lecture to retailers about tackling shoplifting. Goodacre described the criticism as 'off-field,' emphasizing that the retail sector has already invested £1.2 billion in advanced security measures over the past two years, yet still suffers annual losses of £2 billion. He suggested that police had largely ignored the problem until recently, making the call for retailers to 'step up' unilateral rather than collaborative.

The exchange highlights a disparity in perceived efforts. While Goodacre acknowledged recent police improvements and the value of collaborative groups like the Police and Retail Crime Action Group, he stressed that progress stemmed from joint efforts, not solely police action. Sir Mark, however, pointed to instances where retailers allegedly hampered investigations by withholding CCTV or failing to allow staff time for witness statements, asserting that police have 'doubled down' on shoplifting and now expect retailers to do the same.

Goodacre expressed concern that such public criticism is unhelpful and could widen a 'trust gap.' He suggested that police forces might be overwhelmed if all reported crimes were processed effectively, hinting at issues within the court system contributing to repeat offending. Despite these disagreements, both sides acknowledge the ongoing investment in technology like facial recognition, with Met Police reporting a 4.4% decrease in store thefts from April to December, indicating some progress in a complex, ongoing battle.