Co-op is trailing a new way to tackle shoplifting by marking commonly stolen items with invisible “forensic spray” to track them, state recent reports.
The supermarket has tested the technique in Manchester and London since last year and aims to use it across the country. The spray, which helps the Co-op identify where stolen items are being resold and report it to the police, contains a unique forensic code for a particular location where the items were sold.
The items being marked include sweets, alcohol and launry deteregents.
Police can then identify which Co-op store the items originated from when investigating physical shops or online stores suspected of reselling stolen goods.
The technique is part of a raft of measures which the Co-op said had helped it cut crime in its stores by a fifth last year. It said physical attacks on its staff fell by almost a third year-on-year.
Paul Gerrard, policy director at the Co-op, said: “We have made it harder to steal things and now we are making it harder to sell.”
Co-op has also invested about £250 million in security measures including body-worn cameras for staff, more security guards, reinforced kiosks for high-value products such as spirits and tobacco and special shelving kit which prevents large amounts of goods being swept off into a bag.
It is also testing the use of AI to help identify unusual activity via CCTV cameras in stores and alert staff so they can intervene.
The Co-op has also teamed up with police in 20 areas to share evidence such as CCTV images to catch repeat offenders. In the last year, these partnerships have resulted in 500 prolific offenders receiving custodial sentences, collectively amounting to more than 100 years.
Amid the retail crime wave, Co-op applauded the landmark Crime and Policing Bill gaining Royal Assent and becoming law and its potential to drive sustained change in the ongoing commitment to tackle crime in our high streets and communities.
Amongst a host of new policing powers, the legislation will create a specific offence for assaulting retail workers to protect those who work hard, day-in, day-out, to serve and support their local communities. At its peak, on average three to four Co-op colleagues would be attacked or assaulted in stores every day.
In addition, it will end the £200 threshold for shop theft, sending a loud and clear message that any crime, even ‘low level crime’, is unacceptable in society.
Co-op’s colleagues and members campaigned for over eight years for greater protection for local stores and those who work in them. Engaging unions, local MP’s and Ministers, police and, giving evidence to successive Governments to turn a spotlight on the criminality and impact of shop theft - championing local stores and those who work in them and, rely on them.
With welcome ONS data suggesting a 1% national decline in shoplifting to year-ended December, Co-op has seen its overall retail crime levels fall faster than the national average – down 21% over the same period. Co-op has also seen physical attacks on its colleagues fall by almost a third year-on-year (31%) and, anti-social behaviour and abuse down 36% (YOY) – a trend it sees continuing into 2026.
Paul Gerrard, Director of Campaigns, Public Affairs and Policy, Co-op, said: “Shopworkers have had to tolerate unacceptable levels of theft, abuse and violence for far too long, and it’s not right.
"Local shops are an anchor in communities, and that is why Co-op, my colleagues and our members spoke-up, often when others wouldn’t, to clearly say criminal behaviour, violence and abuse ‘should not be part of the job’.
"The tide of criminality can be turned, we saw crime levels reducing in the Co-op by more than 20% in 2025. But this is just the start.
"As we continue to invest significantly in wide-ranging safety and security measures, forge successful partnerships with local police forces and see a significant increase in police attendance, this landmark Bill has the power to drive further sustained change, and we all must seize this opportunity and continue to work together and do all we can to protect local community stores, and those that work in them."