Call for more protection after Brimington Co-op worker assaulted in shoplifting incident

The Co-op on High Street in Brimington, Chesterfield.

Central England Co-op is reinforcing its message that violence and aggression towards staff will ‘not be tolerated’ after the colleague at its Brimington store was punched in the face after a shoplifter became aggressive after being spotted by a customer.

The colleague has not been left with any serious injuries and is recovering at home. The team is now working with the local police and supporting its investigation.

Craig Goldie, loss prevention manager, said: “Everyone at Central England Co-op was shocked and appalled by yet another unacceptable incident in Derbyshire.

“This incident left one colleague injured and they are now recovering at home.

“We strongly condemn any form of abuse or violence towards our colleagues who are just doing their job and are working closely with the local police force in order to find those responsible.

“This type of incident reinforces our ongoing campaign calling for better protection for shop workers and highlights our zero tolerance policy on all types of crime aimed at our colleagues and customers.

“Once again, we are sending a clear message out to anyone who might consider targeting our colleagues and stores – it is not worth the risk and no crime will be tolerated."

The coming months will see Central England Co-op increasing a range of different measures in stores including: expanding a service it uses that allows colleagues, at the touch of the button, to call for assistance, and putting tracking devices in more products to deter would-be thieves.

This will sit alongside a recently launched trial of body-worn cameras which, if successful, could be rolled out across all stores.

The campaign comes on the back of new figures which have revealed that, in Central England Co-op stores this year, verbal abuse has risen by 205 per cent, threats and intimidation by 122 per cent and assaults by 47 per cent.

It can also be revealed that the retailer has recorded a total of 232 crimes related directly to Covid-19.