Policing minister Chris Philp, speaking at a fringe event at the Tory party conference, has encouraged people to carry out citizen’s arrests of shoplifters. Retailers in the country are facing a shoplifting epidemic, and Mr. Philp addressed the issue at a fringe meeting hosted by the Policy Exchange think tank at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. He reminded everyone that shop staff and security guards have the power of citizen’s arrest and encouraged them to use it where it is safe to do so. He emphasized the need to challenge shoplifters in order to prevent the situation from escalating and recognized that the police cannot be everywhere at all times.
However, these comments by Mr. Philp were criticized by the leader of the shopworkers’ union, who deemed it “dangerous and irresponsible” rhetoric. The Criminal Law Act 1967 allows members of the public to use reasonable force in the prevention of crime and the apprehension of offenders. Last month, Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association, stated that shoplifters have become increasingly emboldened and violent.
Mr. Philp addressed the issue of crime, theft, and robbery in his speech and acknowledged their downward trajectory in recent years. However, he expressed deep concern about the specific and serious issue of shoplifting, highlighting the physical abuse suffered by retail workers and the atmosphere of disorder it creates. He cited examples from cities such as San Francisco, where a failure to tackle shoplifting early on led to escalation and forced retail chains to close down their branches.
Mr. Philp emphasized the importance of clamping down on shoplifting to protect the livelihoods of shopkeepers and the communities they serve. However, the general secretary of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), Paddy Lillis, criticized the idea of “DIY policing.” He called for increased police presence and the introduction of a standalone offense for assaulting shopworkers, similar to Scotland. USDAW advised its members not to intervene or detain shoplifters and prioritize their own safety. Mr. Lillis expressed concern over the minister suggesting that shop staff and the general public should be performing citizen’s arrests in stores, highlighting a lack of understanding in the matter.