Organised criminals are behind the recent rise in shoplifting and violence against shop workers rather than people stealing to survive, one of the UK’s largest grocery chains has told a parliamentary inquiry.
Paul Gerrard, the public affairs director at the Co-op, told the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee into shoplifting that a 44% rise in retail crime it experienced last year was mostly down to gangs stealing to order at scale – clearing shelves in some cases.
Read the full article on The Guardian website
NAM Implications:
- Any regular Co-op shopper will have noticed the increased watchfulness…
- …on the part of Co-op staff as they face the dilemma of spotting shoplifting…
- …but are unable to intervene for fear of retaliation.
- Not good…
