Co-op boss calls for change in police response amid ‘out of control’ retail crime

The convenience retailer has said crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour has become “out of control,” with more than 175,000 incidents recorded in the first six months of 2023, which equates to almost 1,000 incidents a day.

Over the past year, frontline store workers have seen physcial assaults increase by 30% while anti-socal behaviour and verbal abuse has risen by 20%.

Co-op has warned that if this continues, some communities will become a ‘no-go’ area for local stores.

A Freedom of Information request by the retailer found that police failed to respond to 71% of serious retail crimes reported.

Hood said that he has seen “horrific incidents of brazen and violent theft” in Co-op stores, adding “it’s hard to over-emphasise how important urgent change is.”

Co-op has invested more than £200m in recent years in colleague and community safety, which equates to four times the average sector spend on security and safety measures per store.

As well as providing equipment such as body-worn cameras and communication headsets for frontline colleagues, Co-op has also recently started placing a reduced level of high-value products on shelves, instead displaying ‘dummy’ products.

Grocery Gazette