Waitrose employee fired after confronting shoplifter offered job at rival supermarket
A long-serving Waitrose worker who was sacked after an encounter with a shoplifter has been offered a new role by rival supermarket Iceland, sparking a row over retail theft policies.
Walker Smith, 54, was sacked by Waitrose just two days after he intervened when a shoplifter attempted to steal a bag of Easter eggs from the Clapham Junction branch where he had worked for 17 years. The incident resulted in a short fight before the thief escaped.
Mr Smith expressed regret for his actions but told media outlets that he was forced to take action after witnessing thefts “at all hours of every day for the last five years” without being allowed to intervene.
The news prompted Lord Richard Walker, Iceland’s chief executive and the government’s cost-of-living champion, to make a public job offer to Mr Smith. In his LinkedIn post, Lord Walker noted that Mr Smith had said “welcome to work with us”, jokingly adding “we even share the same name”.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also weighed in, describing Waitrose’s decision as “disgraceful” and calling on the supermarket to reinstate Mr Smith and give him a bonus for a “courageous attempt”.
In a letter to Waitrose chief executive Tom Denyard posted on social media, Mr Philp called for Mr Smith to be reinstated and paid a bonus “for his courage and initiative”.
He said: “Staff safety must come first.
“But firing a long-serving employee under these circumstances sends the wrong message entirely.
“Criminals are left unchecked while punishing those who act.
“Of course the police and this failed Government must do more to tackle theft.
“But store staff and the public also need to be supported and encouraged to intervene.
“Otherwise, shoplifting will continue to increase uncontrollably.”
The incident comes against a backdrop of rising shoplifting, with crimes set to increase by 5 percent annually until September 2025.
However, Waitrose said media reports about Mr Smith’s case, based on an interview with The Guardian, “do not cover ‘the full facts of the situation'”.
The supermarket reiterated that the “safety and security” of its staff and customers formed the basis of its policies preventing direct response to such incidents. Waitrose, which declined to discuss Mr Smith’s specific circumstances, confirmed the “correct process” was followed, including an appeals procedure.
