Upmarket grocer Waitrose is to struggle shoplifting by giving visiting police a free cup of tea or espresso.

The chain hopes the presence of on-duty officers will deter thieves.

Police may also be capable of eat in subsidised workers canteens, the place scorching meals value as little as £2, in John Lewis department shops.

While on breaks they'll additionally use quiet workers seating areas and bogs “to strengthen relationships and tackle retail crime”.

Bosses on the John Lewis Partnership, which owns the 2 manufacturers, have written to the Police Federation to say that workers together with police neighborhood assist officers can have free scorching drinks from Waitrose machines in the event that they take a reusable cup.

About 850 incidents of violence or abuse in opposition to store employees are recorded daily, based on the British Retail Consortium – whereas assaults on companions [employees] in Waitrose retailers have doubled since 2020.

John Lewis stated that it has additionally elevated its whole of guards and security-trained workers, improved CCTV protection and given physique cameras to workers who need one.

Nicki Juniper, head of safety for the John Lewis Partnership, stated: “Just having a police car parked outside can make people think twice about shoplifting from our branches.”

The BRC stated that shoplifting circumstances soared from 1.6 million in 2013 to 7.9 million final 12 months – with the worth of thefts rocketing from £265million to £953million in a decade.