Sainsbury’s boss speaks out on epidemic of retail crime
- Simon Roberts backed our marketing campaign for the police to get powerful with shoplifters
- Abuse or violence in direction of retail employees must be a selected offence
- Roberts: Increase in violence and verbal abuse in opposition to Sainsbury’s employees
The boss of Sainsbury’s has spoken out for the primary time concerning the epidemic of retail crime sweeping Britain.
Simon Roberts, 51, chief government of the UK’s second-biggest grocery store chain, has backed The Mail on Sunday’s marketing campaign for the police to get powerful with shoplifters.
He additionally helps the demand for a change within the regulation to make abuse or violence in direction of retail employees a selected offence.
Roberts stated that, in frequent with different giant retailers, there was a rise in violence and verbal abuse in opposition to employees.
He added: ‘I see a report day by day on the variety of violent incidents and assaults on our individuals in our petrol stations, our comfort shops and in our retailers. It positively escalated by means of final 12 months.’ Roberts stated he has been working with the Government and his fellow retailer bosses to clamp down on the issue.
Speaking out: Simon Roberts has backed our marketing campaign for the police to get powerful with shoplifters
‘Any scenario the place a human being feels threatened or not secure – we have to put the power of the regulation behind that,’ he stated.
‘We have a accountability and the federal government and police do as effectively.’ He stated that Sainsbury’s was the primary retailer to put money into body-worn cameras, that are provided to the entire firm’s 150,000 employees.
When activated, the cameras ship a sign to a assist staff, who will be capable to watch the footage reside. If vital, they’ll ring the police and ask for officers to be despatched to the shop.
‘We needed to guide the trade. There have been all types of points round information safety however in the long run you simply need to take a place.’
Retail crime has hit the entire main chains.
The Mail on Sunday has led the best way on exposing the scandal of abuse in opposition to retailer employees and shoplifting, revealing it has been costing £1bn a 12 months, which finally comes out of consumers’ pockets.
Roberts added: ‘The key level is that this shouldn’t be in any method simply be missed. This is a criminal offense. Stealing is a criminal offense.’
