Co-op has used body-worn cameras since 2019 to capture real-time audio and visual footage. Credit: Co-operative Group.

British cooperative Co-op is calling on communities affected by retail crime to urge police and crime commissioner (PCC) candidates in their region to commit to a crackdown on criminal activities. 

This comes ahead of the PCC elections, which are set to take place on 2 May 2024. 

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Co-op is demanding the full implementation of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Retail Crime Action Plan, which launched in October 2023. 

It also called for commitment from candidates to enforce the new law announced by the UK government earlier this month, which makes assault against shopworkers a standalone offence in England and Wales. 

The retailer holds the commitment of the PCC crucial for the success of these new steps.  

Co-op campaign and public affairs director Paul Gerrard said: “Retail crime impacts shopworkers both physically and mentally, with many communities blighted by unacceptable levels of persistent and prolific offending.  

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“Newly elected PCCs have the opportunity to crack down on retail crime through the implementation of the Retail Crime Action Plan and by enforcing the new standalone offence – we are calling on the next PCCs to deliver the protection that those working in retail and, serving communities in towns, villages and cities across the UK, deserve.” 

Co-op has invested more than £200m ($250.41m) in safety and security measures for colleagues and stores.  

This includes advanced interactive CCTV and body-worn cameras, which have been used since 2019 to record real-time incidents.  

Additionally, the retailer has introduced fortified kiosks and dummy packaging to deter bulk theft, among other security measures. 

Last year, Co-op witnessed more than 1,325 physical assaults against store workers, over 40,000 antisocial behaviour and abuse incidents and more than a third of a million incidents of shoplifting, abuse, violence and antisocial behaviour equating to nearly 1,000 such occurrences every day across its 2,400 stores. 

Earlier this month, Opal, the UK NPCC intelligence unit on serious organised acquisitive retail crime, revealed plans to launch training to combat its growth.