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Marks & Spencer’s retail director has raised urgent concerns about the escalating problem of retail crime, pointing to multiple incidents of shoplifting and violence impacting the company’s stores. Thinus Keeve emphasized the need for increased police resources to address what he described as a worsening situation, with retail workers regularly subjected to abuse and physical attacks in their daily roles.
Adam Hawksbee, M&S’s external affairs director, highlighted on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that organized criminal gangs have increasingly targeted their stores. He expressed that these events have left staff fearful about their safety and reluctance to come to work. Over the recent weekend, police responded to reports of disorder involving hundreds of young people in Clapham, south London, many of whom were seen entering an M&S location.
In a recent letter to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, Keeve urged the provision of additional police support to tackle retail crime more effectively. He described several alarming incidents within a single week, including gangs breaking into locked cabinets, two individuals blatantly stealing large quantities of steak, a store being vandalized by groups of youths who later assaulted a security guard, and staff suffering serious injuries including a headbutt and an ammonia attack. Keeve called the issue “systemic” and stressed the necessity for a coordinated effort involving government, law enforcement, and industry partners.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has also reached out to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to escalate the matter. Despite the company’s significant investment of tens of millions into security measures, Hawksbee pointed out that these efforts have limits without stronger police involvement and better use of data to identify and address crime hotspots. The mayor’s office affirmed support for police strategies focused on data-driven targeting of repeat offenders.
Government officials have condemned recent incidents, with Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones labeling them “disgraceful” and calling for the use of all available legal powers to safeguard workers and penalize perpetrators. Police forces have responded robustly, with about 100 officers deployed to Clapham High Street after disturbances involving attempts to enter shops, setting fires, and fireworks on Clapham Common. Multiple assaults, including on law enforcement officers, resulted in ongoing investigations and additional arrests anticipated.
In preparation for the Bank Holiday weekend, the Metropolitan Police have increased officer presence and implemented a comprehensive plan to mitigate potential disorder. Hawksbee stressed the need for collaboration among local and national leaders to confront these challenges, noting that M&S had planned to engage with government officials even before the Clapham events. Similar issues involving youth-related anti-social behavior and criminal damage have also been reported recently in other regions such as Rochdale and Solihull, prompting police to impose dispersal orders and restrictions on gatherings
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