Chris Philp, in a letter to Waitrose Managing Director Tom Denyard, stated “retailer employees and the general public needs to be supported and inspired to intervene”.
Walker Smith – Waitrose employee sacked from 17-year job after stopping thief (Picture: Fb)
A former Waitrose worker sacked for tackling a shoplifter needs to be reinstated and given a bonus, retail chiefs have been informed.
Shadow House Secretary Chris Philp, in a letter to Waitrose Managing Director Tom Denyard, stated “retailer employees and the general public needs to be supported and inspired to intervene”.
Walker Smith, 54, was dismissed after scuffling with a thief over a bag of Easter Eggs.
He confronted the person and “grabbed the bag”, however the particular person pulled it again. The bag cut up through the scuffle, sending Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs, value £13 every, crashing to the ground. The shoplifter then fled.
Mr Smith then threw a chunk of egg, “out of frustration”, in the direction of some procuring trolleys.
Mr Philp informed the Waitrose chief: “This case displays a wider and rising drawback. Shoplifting is rising sharply, with offenders performing overtly and with little worry of consequence.
“Employees security should come first.
“However dismissing a long-serving worker in these circumstances sends totally the mistaken message.
“It penalises those that act, whereas offenders are left unchecked.
“After all, the police and this failing authorities should do extra to sort out shoplifting.
“However retailer employees and the general public needs to be supported and inspired to intervene as effectively.
“In any other case, shoplifting will proceed to surge unchecked.
“Mr Smith now faces dropping his house and has spoken in regards to the influence on his psychological well being.
“That may be a severe end result for somebody who was making an attempt to do the precise factor. Waitrose ought to assist employees going through this type of behaviour, not penalise them.
“Waitrose has behaved disgracefully by sacking Mr Smith. I urge you to reinstate him instantly, apologise to him and pay him a bonus for his bravery and initiative.”
Waitrose claimed media experiences don’t cowl the “full information of the scenario” and identified that “nothing we promote is value risking lives for”.
Recalling the incident throughout an interview, Mr Smith stated: “I attempted to remain sturdy and I didn’t say a phrase, however inside I used to be crying. They led me out the again door by the bins. I simply felt demoralised.”
He added: “Waitrose is like my household. My mates are there. I used to be there for 17 years, I should have been doing one thing proper. I’m not a nasty or violent or aggressive particular person. I simply received annoyed seeing today in and day trip and never seeing Waitrose do a lot about it.”
Mr Smith has reportedly been identified with nervousness, which he stated his managers had been conscious of.
Regardless of saying he regretted his actions, he additionally informed the Guardian that he was spurred into motion by watching thefts on the retailer “each hour of day by day for the final 5 years” and never being allowed to do something.
Shoplifting offences elevated in England and Wales within the 12 months to September, however remained barely beneath file ranges seen within the 12 months to March 2025, the most recent Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) figures accessible present.
There have been 519,381 shoplifting offences within the 12 months to September 2025, up 5% from 492,660 the earlier 12 months.
A complete of 530,439 offences had been recorded within the 12 months to March 2025.
Waitrose stated the “security and safety” of their employees and prospects is the explanation they’ve insurance policies in place to cease actions like these of Mr Smith.
They stated: “We’ve had incidents the place our Companions have been hospitalised when difficult shoplifters. Fortunately, they’ve at all times recovered, however that may not at all times be the case.
“There’s a severe hazard to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to place anybody’s life in danger and that’s why we have now insurance policies in place which can be very clearly understood and have to be strictly adopted.
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“As a accountable employer, we by no means wish to be able the place we’re notifying households of a tragedy as a result of somebody tried to cease a theft.
“Nothing we promote is value risking lives for. The reporting on this doesn’t cowl the total information of the scenario.”
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