Sainsbury's CEO, Simon Roberts, has endorsed the idea of police presence in stores to deter theft and violence. The UK government has pledged to recruit 3,000 extra neighbourhood police officers and community support officers over the next 12 months. The issue of retail crime has become a hot political topic in Britain, with repeat offenders and criminal gangs operating with impunity. Official data showed shoplifting offences in England and Wales declined by 1% to 509,566 in 2025. However, industry body, the British Retail Consortium, believes this data underestimates the issue. Roberts also welcomed new legislation abolishing the 200 pounds ($270) threshold for low level theft and creating a specific offence for assaulting retail workers.