BRITS should ARREST thieves if they see them stealing from shops because cops “can’t be everywhere”, the policing minister has said.
Chris Philp has encouraged members of the public to help address the shoplifting epidemic by making citizen’s arrests when they witness thefts in supermarkets.
Video shows alleged shoplifters packing up their cars on Monday
PABrits should arrest thieves if they see them stealing, Chris Philp has said[/caption]
He also called on retailers to instruct their security guards to intervene and use their powers of arrest when safe to do so.
Philp emphasised the importance of individuals, particularly shop staff, playing a role in combating shoplifting, warning that the issue could escalate without such efforts.
Under section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967, any member of the public “may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders or of persons unlawfully at large”.
The MP for Croydon South made the comments during a fringe event hosted by the Policy Exchange think tank at the Conservative Party conference, the Times reported.
He said: “I would also just remind everyone that the wider public, including shop staff and security guards, do have the power of citizen’s arrest.
“Where it’s safe to do so I would encourage that to be used, because if you do just let people walk in and take stuff and walk out without proper challenge, including potentially a physical challenge, then it will just escalate.
“While I want the faster and better police response they can’t be everywhere so I would still think about stores setting that up in some cases.”
It comes after have-a-heroes swooped on suspected shoplifters loading up their car with stolen groceries.
Video shows three men throwing shopping into their car in a Tesco’s car park in Waltham Abbey, Essex, on Monday.
The trio are seen hastily shoving groceries from a shopping trolley before jumping into the black BMW.
But before they drive away, a group of men storm the vehicle and start demanding the gang get out of the car.
Have-a-go-heroes stopped them from leaving Tescos Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
