(qlmbusinessnews.com Tue, 12th Sept, 2023) London, UK —
Shoplifting has surged to alarming levels in the past year, according to Dame Sharon White, the head of John Lewis. Speaking Today, she revealed that the renowned retailer has witnessed a doubling of shoplifting incidents over the last 12 months.
Dame Sharon expressed her concern over the situation, especially the rising cases of abuse and attacks faced by shop workers. She called it unacceptable that retail staff are having to endure such aggression.
In response to this growing issue, a consortium of retailers, which includes John Lewis, has agreed to finance a police initiative aimed at curbing shoplifting, dubbed “Project Pegasus.” Approximately £600,000 will be allocated to this project, which will leverage CCTV footage and data supplied by the stores to gain a better understanding of shoplifters' tactics.
Incident data from various retailers will be collected and scrutinized by analysts and intelligence officers. Dame Sharon, who chairs the John Lewis Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, lamented that certain areas have transformed into “shadows of their former selves” due to violent attacks and persistent offenders wreaking havoc in stores.
During her interview, she noted that reported incidents have sometimes gone unanswered by the police. Data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reveals that retail theft across England and Wales surged by 26% in 2022. The BRC's crime survey suggests that nearly 850 incidents occur daily, with staff frequently facing physical assaults and threats involving weapons.
Shoplifting offenses have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels as the cost of living continues to rise, as corroborated by data analysis. In response to this crisis, various other retailers, including Co-op, Tesco, and Iceland, have announced substantial investments in anti-crime measures.
Security tags are being employed on items like steak and cheese, while Co-op stores are replacing coffee with dummy containers. The CEO of Co-op has issued a warning about certain areas becoming “no-go zones” due to an increase in “shocking instances of brazen and violent theft.”
Tesco is equipping all its staff with body cameras due to the escalating risk of physical assaults and theft. In a recent social media post, Richard Walker, Managing Director of Iceland, affirmed the company's commitment to security, stating that they are allocating more resources than ever before to address “serious incidents.”
The BRC has previously reported that such high levels of theft cost retailers nearly £1 billion in the 2021 financial year. This is money that could have been used to lower prices and enhance the customer experience.
Michelle Whitehead, an employee at a small convenience store in Wolverhampton, disclosed that shoplifters pilfer from the store “two or three times a day.” She often witnesses individuals clearing entire shelves of items, including fresh meat, milk, and baby food, and stashing them in rucksacks or large reusable bags.
Whitehead believes that many of these incidents are not driven by hunger but rather orchestrated by “organised crime rings” that might be reselling the stolen goods.
Dame Sharon stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat organised criminal gangs and called for the adoption of Scottish legislation making the abuse of retail workers a nationwide offense.
In a bid to foster better relations with the police, Waitrose and John Lewis are offering complimentary hot beverages to on-duty officers. Furthermore, police personnel at John Lewis stores will be granted access to staff cafeterias for breaks and enjoy discounted food purchases, with the expectation that their presence will act as a deterrent to criminals.
Dame Sharon is advocating for a royal commission, akin to an independent inquiry, to explore the future of British High Streets. Retailers have cited heightened competition from online shopping and exorbitant business rates as factors impeding the growth of physical stores in city center locations.
She emphasized the necessity of adopting a holistic approach to address these issues, involving input from the government, academia, and the industry. Rather than examining problems individually, such as tax, crime, planning, housing, and environmental policy, Dame Sharon argues for a comprehensive examination.
To address performance concerns within the John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon has been exploring strategies for growth. The retailer is set to unveil its half-year financial results soon, having previously reported a £78 million loss before exceptional items in its latest financial year.
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