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Sainsbury’s boss calls for stronger laws on retail crime
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By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted January 23, 2024
Sainsbury’s CEO, Simon Roberts, is advocating for tougher laws to protect retail workers as crime increases.
There has been an alarming increase in abuse and physical attacks on the supermarket's staff throughout the past year.
Collaborating with the government and fellow retail leaders, Roberts aims to address the perceived shoplifting "epidemic."
Roberts said: “I see a report every day on the number of violent incidents and assaults on our people in our petrol stations, our convenience stores and in our shops.
“Any situation where a human being feels threatened or not safe – we need to put the strength of the law behind that.
“We have a responsibility and the government and police do as well.”
Sainsbury’s has invested millions in body-worn cameras for its 150,000 staff, providing a proactive measure to address security concerns.
When activated, the cameras send a signal to a support team who can watch the footage.
If necessary, the team can call the police and request officers to be sent to the store.
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Roberts said: “We wanted to lead the industry [on body cameras].
“There were all kinds of issues around data protection, but in the end you just have to take a position.
“The key point is that this should not be in any way just overlooked.This is a crime. Stealing is a crime.”
The CEO's call for legal reinforcement comes when Sainsbury’s announced over £220 million investment to reduce prices.
The company plans to maintain low prices for customers by the end of the financial year.
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