Matt Hood, Co-op’s MD, refutes claims of profiting from high prices, amid escalating shoplifting.
- The retailer faced over 175,000 crime incidents in six months, revealing a growing issue.
- Disappointment voiced over public comments defending shoplifting as non-serious.
- Criticism surrounds the narrative linking shoplifting to unbearable living costs.
- Hood demands police involvement as Co-op invests heavily in safety.
Co-op Managing Director Matt Hood has robustly challenged the association of rising shoplifting rates with claims of excessive profiteering by supermarkets. The assertion that retailers are benefitting from inflated food prices has been put forward by some as a justification for what Hood describes as “out of control” theft levels.
In the first half of 2023, Co-op reported over 175,000 incidents of crime, shoplifting, and antisocial behaviour, averaging almost 1,000 incidents daily. Hood expressed dissatisfaction with public narratives suggesting that shoplifting is a harmless crime, pointing out the real impact on employees, saying, “What drives me insane is the amount of people who want to claim it is victimless. Tell me, if that was your child working in that shop, would you say it is a victimless crime because it is fundamentally not.”
While some suggest that the cost-of-living crisis contributes to theft, Hood argues that these events are predominantly linked to organised crime, with instances of baby formula being misused in drug production. This has led to heightened security measures, including the implementation of security cases for baby formula in certain locations, as seen in Co-op’s Aylesbury branch.
The British Retail Consortium reported approximately eight million shoplifting incidents in the year leading up to March, yet police records show only 339,206 cases, with a mere 48,218 resulting in charges. Hood has thus called for a stronger police response, highlighting Co-op’s substantial investment of over £200 million in safety measures, which notably exceeds the average sector expenditure.
The inadequacy of current legal repercussions for crimes such as shoplifting, theft, and burglary is being addressed by impending legislative changes aimed at introducing more severe penalties. Hood’s comments coincide with these developments, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to reducing retail crime.
Matt Hood’s remarks reflect an urgent call for collaborative action against the retail crime wave.
