Waitrose offers police officers free coffees to help combat rising shoplifting incidents amid a cost-of-living crisis.
- Free coffees for police officers are aimed at increasing police presence in stores.
- The initiative targets a reduction in thefts and assaults on employees, which have doubled since 2020.
- Assault incidents and anti-social behaviour in stores have significantly increased.
- The campaign is part of a broader response to professional shoplifters targeting retail outlets.
Waitrose has introduced a new initiative offering complimentary coffees to police officers visiting their stores. This is part of an effort to address the increasing issue of shoplifting as crime rates rise amidst a cost-of-living crisis. By incentivising police visits, Waitrose aims to deter potential thefts through an enhanced law enforcement presence.
In collaboration with John Lewis stores, officers are encouraged to bring reusable cups to receive their free beverages. This initiative, informally known as the ‘thanks a latte’ plan, seeks to foster goodwill and increase police patrols in retail locations.
Data from the British Retail Consortium highlights a concerning trend, with assaults on Waitrose employees nearly doubling since 2020. Furthermore, physical assaults on front-line staff have risen by 30% year-on-year, and anti-social behaviour alongside verbal abuse have increased by 20%. On a daily basis, the consortium records approximately 850 abuse cases against store staff.
John Lewis’s head of security, Nicki Juniper, has clarified that the rise in theft is primarily due to professional shoplifters rather than solely the cost-of-living crisis. Juniper mentioned that the mere sight of a police car stationed outside could deter shoplifters from targeting branches.
Lucy Brown, director of security at John Lewis Partnership, noted a marked rise in shoplifting incidents, categorising offenders into one-off and habitual shoplifters, affecting all retailers. In parallel, Co-op stores have reported unprecedented shoplifting levels, with almost 1,000 incidents daily in the year’s first half, marking a 35% increase. The retailer also reported a lack of police response to 71% of serious retail crime incidents.
Waitrose’s free coffee initiative underscores the escalation of retail-related crimes and the multifaceted strategies required to address them.
