MP calls for more police to tackle shoplifting in pharmacies
A Labour MP has backed more police recruitment to tackle shoplifting in pharmacies and to put “more resources back into properly fighting crime”.
Watford’s MP Matt Turmaine made the comments at the Sigma Pharmaceutical’s UK conference this weekend (October 6).
Turmaine said “as part of the broader picture, we do have a proposal to be recruiting lots more police officers”, adding “it’s a big issue where I am” and “in the short term” he encouraged any pharmacy experiencing shoplifting to continue reporting it to local police.
“I'm sure you all do, but if you don't, it's very much worth engaging with your local police force about the issue,” he said. “The police will prioritise based on data and information that's fed to them in terms of how they're able to tackle stuff.
“There's a lot of policing that's done on the basis of complaints happening in a particular geographical area. If you raise it with them, they will be able to reprioritise how they're allocating the resources that they have at the moment,” he added.
“Zero tolerance”
It comes after a July poll over WhatsApp by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) indicated that 94% of the 700 UK pharmacies who responded had suffered an increase in shoplifting from July 2023 to June 2024.
It said the “thousands of incidents” place “a heavy cost on pharmacies” who at times have been “subjected to aggressive, abusive and sometimes even violent behaviour” when shoplifting happens.
NPA chair Nick Kaye said pharmacies “easily accessible healthcare services […] makes us vulnerable to crimes like shoplifting” and these types of crimes “adds to the already intense pressures on this vital health service”.
“There are a number of steps pharmacies can take to protect staff and stock (such as placing high-value items in locked display), but a prompt police response is key to deterring crime.
“There should be zero tolerance of crime within the NHS and wider health services. Above all, hardworking clinicians and other pharmacy staff deserve to be able to do their vital work without fear,” he added.
Shoplifting should not “endanger pharmacists”
A pharmacy worker at Wells Pharmacy in Beeston District Centre, Leeds, confirmed a story in local news to C+D on rising levels of shoplifting as its pharmacy is keeping some products like baby formula behind the till to keep away from shoplifters.
It said the pharmacy is hit by regular shoplifters who will let others know what’s in stock before ransacking the pharmacy, with them often “laughing” while they do it.
It noted some staff have been “pushed and shoved” while trying to intervene and that on one occasion two years ago the store manager was spat at.
PDA union director Paul Day said he welcomed “the idea that more police presence can tackle crime” and supports the “sensible security measures that minimise financial losses for the businesses that employ our members”.
“Our emphasis on the topic is that tackling shoplifting should in no way endanger pharmacists or their teams. Our main perspective on shoplifting is about the risk of abuse or assault to pharmacists, team members or indeed patients from shoplifters.
“While not all shoplifters may be violent, and not all violence comes from shoplifters, there is a higher risk if a criminal is confronted that the situation may escalate,” he added.
Day highlighted the PDA’s long-standing Violence in Pharmacy campaign as “pharmacists and their teams are still subjected to violence and abuse as part of their day-to-day experience at work”.
Back in April, the Home Office announced that “assaulting a retail worker” was set to be made “a standalone criminal offence” in new measures to tackle retail crime.
In October 2023, Boots announced it was joining 12 other UK retail giants including Co-op, Primark and John Lewis in collectively pledged over £840,000 to fund the Home Office initiative “Operation Pegasus” aimed at tackling retail crime.
And in March 2022, C+D’s crime in pharmacies investigation found that pharmacies endured a staggering 5,011 incidents of theft or shoplifting in 2021.
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