The Co-op: 'Repeat offenders and criminal gangs operating exempt from consequences'

The Co-op has warned warns that there is a "long way to go" to address the issue of retail crime which has "reached record levels" with repeat offenders and criminal gangs operating "exempt from consequences".

To mark the start of Respect for Shopworkers Week, the group has welcomed "the ambition" of the new Government Retail Crime Action Plan but has released data which shows that of the near 3,000 occasions this year where specialist teams detained serious offenders, the police failed to show-up almost four-fifths (76%) of the time, leading to a dangerous "pressure cooker" environment that the Co-op says puts store workers and communities at risk.

The Retail Crime Action Plan, which was announced in October, outlined an intention to ensure police attendance in stores to tackle violence; where prolific offenders or youth offender have been detained and, to ensure all evidence is collected so that every reasonable line of enquiry is followed.

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Co-op managing director Matt Hood said: "We are pleased that the serious issue of retail crime, which impacts our communities so dramatically, has been acknowledged, and that police chiefs have committed to attend incidents where the offender is detained. It is a welcome and reassuring move, which should complement the £200m we've invested in colleague and store safety. But, we very urgently need to see it in action in our stores, so the desperate calls t