Co-op MD Matt Hood addresses shoplifting crisis linked to profiteering claims, emphasizing its impact on workers.
- The convenience retailer reported over 175,000 criminal incidents, pointing to a significant rise this year.
- Hood critiques arguments that justify shoplifting due to alleged supermarket profiteering amidst rising food prices.
- He highlights the misuse of baby formula in organized crime, contradicting claims of necessity theft.
- Co-op’s substantial security investment calls for police action as judicial measures tighten against theft.
Co-op Managing Director Matt Hood has strongly countered claims that increasing levels of shoplifting are a consequence of supermarket profiteering as food prices surge. The retailer recorded more than 175,000 incidents related to crime and antisocial behavior in just the initial half of 2023, averaging nearly 1,000 occurrences daily.
Expressing his discontent, Hood argued against the notion that shoplifting is harmless. He directly questioned the validity of arguments he encountered that seemed to trivialize the crime due to perceived excessive profits of supermarkets, underscoring the real victims—the workers. Hood questioned, ‘If that was your child working in that shop, would you say it is a victimless crime because it is fundamentally not.’
Hood firmly opposed the idea that socioeconomic hardships are the primary cause of increasing shoplifting incidents. Instead, he shed light on more insidious activities, such as the utilization of baby formula in drug-related crimes. Following this revelation, certain Co-op stores, like the one in Aylesbury, have begun securing baby formula in safety cases to protect their employees.
The scope of the shoplifting dilemma extends beyond Co-op, as illustrated by the figures provided by the British Retail Consortium which estimated about eight million shoplifting cases over a span of 12 months, compared to the 339,206 recorded by police, with under 50,000 resulting in charges. Such disparities emphasize the necessity for law enforcement to enhance their role, a sentiment echoed by Hood.
To combat this issue, Co-op has committed over £200 million toward colleague and community safety, an expenditure notably fourfold the industry average per store. This financial dedication underscores the urgency of the situation and comes at a time when ministers are considering more severe legal punishments for crimes like theft and burglary, as new legislative measures take shape.
This significant retail response underscores the complex interplay between security measures and socioeconomic factors in tackling retail crime.
