M&S Director Urges Stronger Police Action Against Rising Retail Crime
Marks & Spencer's retail director, Thinus Keeve, has issued a powerful plea for a more robust response to escalating retail crime, asserting that the problem is "getting worse, not better." Keeve highlighted a disturbing trend of "abuse and violence in their workplace every day" faced by retail staff, with organised criminal gangs increasingly targeting stores.
In a letter to London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Home Secretary, Stuart Machin, M&S detailed numerous recent incidents, including gangs forcing open cabinets, brazen shoplifting, and assaults on security guards and employees, with one colleague hospitalised after an ammonia attack. M&S external affairs director Adam Hawksbee described the crime as "more brazen, more organised and more aggressive."
Calls for Co-ordinated Action
Keeve emphasised the need for a "systemic issue" to be met with a "co-ordinated response across government, policing and industry." He specifically called for a "stronger, faster and more consistent police response," advocating for the utilisation of existing tools to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots.
The Mayor of London's spokesperson affirmed that "shoplifting is not a victimless crime" and highlighted a "renewed focus" on neighbourhood policing within the Metropolitan Police. Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones condemned the incidents as "disgraceful" and confirmed stronger police powers, including the elimination of immunity for thefts under £200.
These calls follow significant disorder in Clapham, south London, where a large group of young people, reportedly fuelled by online trends, engaged in anti-social behaviour, including attempting to access shops and assaulting police officers. Similar incidents have been reported in Rochdale and Solihull, underscoring a wider national issue.
Industry bodies, such as the British Retail Consortium and the Institute of Customer Service, echoed M&S's concerns, with the latter reporting that 43% of customer-facing staff experienced hostility or abuse in the six months to October. Latest Office for National Statistics figures show a 5% increase in shoplifting offences in England and Wales in the year to September, with 519,381 incidents recorded.
