Waitrose has continued to defend sacking an employee who stopped a thief in a store despite mounting criticism from politicians.
Walker Smith, 54, worked at Waitrose in Clapham Junction for 17 years and described the retailer as “like my family” in an interview with the Guardian published on Sunday. He says he was carrying out his usual role in the branch when a shopper told him that someone had filled up a bag with eggs.
But rather than report it to a manager, as per company protocol, he says he decided to act. Mr Smith said there was a struggle for a few moments before the bag snapped and fell on the floor, the shoplifter fled, and Mr Smith threw a piece of one of the broken bunnies “out of frustration” towards some shopping trollies.
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Despite saying he regretted his actions, he added he was spurred into action by watching thefts at the store “every hour of every day for the last five years” and not being allowed to do anything.
But he says he was pulled into a meeting two days later and sacked from his role. Waitrose have said that the current reporting does not cover the “full facts of the situation” and added “nothing we sell is worth risking lives for”.
Waitrose Clapham Junction
However, politicians have waded in on the row amid outcry over the decision.
On Sunday, the Conservatives reaffirmed their commitment to “Good Samaritan” protections for employees like retail staff and bus drivers in instances like this one. Shadow Justice Minister Kieran Mullan said that “punishing people who step in to stop crime is wrong” and said people doing the “right thing” were being punished.
And Reform UK leader Nigel Farage responded to Mr Smith’s story on X, saying: “We are now a country that favours criminals over law enforcers. Britain is broken.”
‘Why did I do that’
After the altercation with the shoplifter, Mr Smith told the Guardian: ““When I got home, I was punching myself and thinking: ‘Why did I do that?’”
Recalling the incident during the interview, Mr Smith said: “I tried to stay strong and I didn’t say a word, but inside I was crying. They led me out the back door by the bins. I just felt demoralised.”
He added: “Waitrose is like my family. My friends are there. I was there for 17 years, I must have been doing something right. I’m not a bad or violent or aggressive person. I just got frustrated seeing this day in and day out and not seeing Waitrose do much about it.”
Mr Smith has reportedly been diagnosed with anxiety, which he said his managers were aware of.
Waitrose defends stance
Waitrose has said the “safety and security” of their workers and customers is the reason they have policies in place to stop actions like those of Mr Smith.
In a statement to the Press Association, they said: “We’ve had incidents where our Partners have been hospitalised when challenging shoplifters. Luckily, they have always recovered, but that might not always be the case.
“There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed.
“As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft.
“Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for. The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation.”
They noted that while they would not discuss Mr Smith’s case specifically, the “correct process” was followed, including an appeals procedure.