The Co-op has begun discreetly applying invisible “forensic spray” to frequently stolen items, such as alcohol and laundry detergents, as part of a broader initiative to combat shoplifting with the introduction of a new retail crime law.
This supermarket chain plans to expand this technique nationwide after successful trials in Manchester and London over the past year.
The forensic spray enables the Co-op to trace where stolen merchandise is being resold and to report findings to law enforcement. Each spray contains a unique forensic code linked to specific locations from which the items were sold, including confectionery. This allows police to trace back the items to their original Co-op store during investigations into physical or online shops suspected of selling stolen goods.
Law enforcement agencies have previously utilized similar methods to recover stolen bicycles and valuables, as well as to protect victims of domestic abuse.
This initiative is part of a series of strategies that the Co-op claims contributed to a 20% reduction in crime within its stores last year, alongside a nearly one-third decrease in physical assaults on staff compared to the previous year.
Paul Gerrard, the Co-op’s policy director, stated, “We have made it more difficult to steal, and now we are making it more challenging to sell.”
He noted that the Co-op has invested approximately £250 million in security enhancements, which include equipping staff with body-worn cameras, increasing the number of security personnel, reinforcing kiosks for high-value items like spirits and tobacco, and implementing special shelving designed to prevent large-scale theft.
Additionally, the Co-op is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to detect unusual activities through CCTV surveillance in stores, alerting staff for potential interventions.
The Co-op has partnered with law enforcement in 20 regions to exchange evidence, such as CCTV footage, aimed at capturing repeat offenders. Over the past year, these collaborations have led to 500 habitual offenders receiving prison sentences totaling over 100 years.
Gerrard emphasized that the issue is not trivial thefts, stating, “This is not about an extra avocado going into an M&S bag… it is about people taking out an entire meat section for resale.”
He also noted an increase in police responsiveness to incidents, with officers now arriving 70% of the time when called, up from 20% in 2023.
He expressed support for new provisions under the crime and policing bill, which was recently enacted after receiving royal assent. This legislation introduces a distinct offense for assaulting retail workers and simplifies the process for addressing thefts involving items valued under £200 by reversing a previous policy that downgraded police responses to such incidents.
The police are collaborating with retailers through the “Opal project” to address retail crime effectively.
Gerrard remarked, “We now have businesses, police, and the government all taking this seriously. Everyone is aligned, and improvements are beginning to manifest.”
He acknowledged that challenges persist, with an estimated 100 Co-op employees likely to experience abuse in a single day and up to four facing physical attacks.
Keir Starmer recently suggested that the situation regarding shoplifting might be improving, highlighting a 17% increase in charges related to this escalating political issue.
The Prime Minister advocated for the broader use of CCTV footage that could be swiftly shared with police, emphasizing the potential of technology to effect change.
Last year’s official statistics reported that annual shoplifting incidents in England and Wales surpassed 500,000 for the first time.
