Home / Crime and Justice / Co-op Staff: Don't Confront Shoplifters or Risk the Sack
Co-op Staff: Don't Confront Shoplifters or Risk the Sack
25 Mar
Summary
- Staff may face dismissal if they challenge shoplifters.
- Co-op saw over 300,000 shoplifting incidents in 2023.
- No-challenge policies prioritize staff safety amid rising crime.
Supermarket employees are reportedly being instructed not to confront shoplifters, with the risk of termination if they intervene. This policy, seen at Co-op stores, has drawn criticism from staff who fear it emboldens thieves. One employee shared that repeat offenders often steal hundreds of pounds worth of goods without consequence.
The Co-op chain reported over 300,000 incidents of shoplifting and abuse in 2023, a significant 44% rise compared to 2022. This surge includes violent incidents, such as a machete-wielding gang robbing a London store in February 2024 and an attack on a worker in Dorset. The supermarket stated its no-challenge policy is in place to protect staff safety, as retail crime can escalate to violence.
Similar directives are reportedly in place at Waitrose, where staff are also advised against challenging thieves. These measures come as Britain faces a shoplifting epidemic, with recent figures showing a record number of cases going unsolved. Police closed approximately 295,589 shoplifting cases without identifying a suspect between April 2024 and March 2025.
