Retail leaders are calling for stronger in-store security measures, including equipping guards with defensive tools, amid a surge in violence and abuse against shop staff.
Lord Walker of Broxton, executive chairman of Iceland, has suggested that security personnel in shops should be allowed to carry pepper spray and truncheons to better protect workers.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, he said that “just one incident of violence against my staff is too many,” pointing to Spain as an example, where armed security guards are more common and, in his words, “don’t mess about”.
"We call it shoplifting, which sounds like a cheeky bit of pilfering, but actually we should just call it out for what it is, which is violent crime," Lord Walker, executive chairman of Iceland, said.
In an interview with The Times, Lord Walker, who is also the Government’s cost-of-living tsar, said, "We all saw the footage of marauding gangs and security guards being beaten up. The violent nature of it in Clapham is horrific.
“I’ve always argued for more powers for security guards. You go to Spain and all the security guards have pepper spray and a truncheon, they don’t mess about.”
His comments come as concerns mount across the sector over rising retail crime and increasing aggression towards frontline workers.
Marks & Spencer's retail director has called for a crackdown on retail crime, after a string of incidents involving shoplifting and violence at its stores.
Thinus Keeve said police should be given the resources to tackle the issue, which he says is "getting worse, not better", with retail staff facing "abuse and violence in their workplace every day".
Keeve said: "In the past week alone we have had gangs forcing open locked cabinets and stripping shelves, two men brazenly emptying the shelves of steak and walking out, a large group of young people ransacking a store before assaulting a security guard, a colleague headbutted trying to defuse a situation and another hospitalised after having ammonia thrown in their face."
"We need to recognise this for what it is. A systemic issue. A growing issue. And one that demands a co-ordinated response across government, policing and industry."